Laser welding
How does laser welding work?
Quick answer
Handheld laser welding (fiber laser welding): a fiber laser beam melts a narrow, deep seam — 3–5x faster than TIG with minimal heat input and almost no cleanup. It sits alongside traditional arc processes rather than replacing them.
What's happening at the arc
In Handheld laser welding (fiber laser welding), an electric arc (or, for laser, a focused beam) delivers intense localized heat that melts the base metal and, where used, the filler. The shielding gas — nitrogen or argon at 15–25 L/min — keeps air off the pool; without it the weld goes porous and weak.
Where it fits in Australian workshops
Class 4 laser products in Australia require laser safety officer planning and rated eyewear under AS/NZS IEC 60825 guidance; handheld units are legal to buy and use but are not a 'point and go' consumer tool.
Settings by thickness
| Laser power | Single-pass steel | With wire |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000–1,200 W | up to ~3 mm | thicker with multi-pass |
| 1,500 W | up to ~4 mm | ~5 mm |
| 2,000 W | up to ~6 mm | ~7 mm |
| 3,000 W | up to ~8 mm | 10 mm+ |
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