Welding 3.2

Perfection in laser welding

Precision welding for OEMs and industrial customers that need extreme accuracy and short lead times. Specialised in laser welding of stainless steel and aluminium.

Close-up of a laser-welded stainless steel product with a clean seam

About this operation

Materials
  • Stainless steel 304 / 316
  • Aluminium
  • Brass
Applications
  • Food industry
  • Machine building
  • Visible surfaces

In laser welding the heat is introduced into a very narrow zone. The heat-affected zone therefore stays small and the workpiece hardly distorts — exactly what you want with thin material and with parts that must remain dimensionally stable after welding. With conventional TIG welding the heat input is higher and you have to allow more often for straightening and rework.

The difference is most visible on the outside. A laser seam is narrow and even and needs little to no grinding on visible surfaces. That saves more than time: every grinding operation removes material and, on ground stainless steel, disturbs the grain direction, which then has to be rebuilt across the whole assembly.

Laser welding does place higher demands on preparation. Because the beam is small, there is little gap bridging: the parts have to fit tightly and be firmly fixtured. We therefore cut the parts on the laser and use fixturing where required. For larger gaps or for a seam that has to fill volume, TIG or MIG welding is the better choice; we make that assessment per product.

From drawing to delivery

  1. Preparation

    Fitting up and fixing in place.

  2. Laser welding

    Concentrated, low-distortion seam.

  3. Finishing

    Grinding and passivating where required.

  4. Integration

    Build-up into a complete assembly.

Specifications

Indicative values — to be confirmed per project
Materials
stainless steel 304 and 316, aluminium and brass
Heat input
into a very narrow zone; the workpiece hardly distorts
Compared with TIG
higher heat input there, so more straightening and rework
Seam
narrow and even; little to no grinding on visible surfaces
Gap bridging
limited — parts have to fit tightly and be firmly fixtured
Preparation
parts cut on the laser, with fixturing where required
Larger gap or filling volume
then TIG or MIG welding is the better choice
After welding stainless steel
remove heat tint and passivate; the zone is narrower than with TIG, but skipping it is not an option
Integration
welded parts are built up into complete assemblies

What to send us

Request a quote
  • The drawing with the sheet thickness
  • The joint geometry
  • The requirement for the visible side
  • We will then indicate which welding method suits best and what that means for finishing

Frequently asked questions

What is the advantage of laser welding over TIG welding?

The heat input is far lower, so the heat-affected zone stays small and the workpiece hardly distorts. The seam is narrow and even and needs little finishing on visible surfaces. TIG remains the better choice for larger gaps or when the seam has to fill volume.

Which materials can you laser weld?

Stainless steel 304 and 316, aluminium and brass. Which material and joint geometry are feasible depends on the sheet thickness and on how accurately the parts fit together; we assess that on the drawing.

Does a laser-welded seam still need finishing?

Usually very little: the seam is narrow and even, so grinding is often unnecessary. With stainless steel one step always applies — removing heat tint and passivating — because the heat attacks the protective oxide layer around the seam.

How accurately do the parts have to fit for laser welding?

More accurately than for TIG. The laser beam is small and bridges little gap, so the parts have to fit tightly and be fixtured. We therefore cut them on the laser and use fixturing where required. If a tight fit is not achievable, we advise TIG or MIG.

Do you also offer robot welding?

Not in house. Robot welding is done within our group at Baas Metaal. We handle the coordination and the assembly, so that it remains a single order for you. For smaller batches and visible work, laser welding with us is often the more logical route.

Discuss your drawing,
part or assembly.

Response within one working day · 074-2912235 · info@assinkschipholt.nl