Laser Soldering is a process where material is supplied on a portion of the surface or workpiece.
Various high power lasers can be used for laser soldering, e.g. CO2, Nd: YAG, diode and fiber lasers.
The laser soldering process is ideal for creating a completely new surface, as well as to repair damaged or worn surfaces (renovation). It is also possible to create burred coatings for various functions where the material composition of the coating can be changed in real-time, which in turn results in that the material properties can be tailored to particular areas of the component/material. This technique is used, for example, in the construction equipment industry because it increases the wear resistance of the equipment in order to last longer.
How laser soldering work
Normally a powder is supplied to a substrate which then gets fused together by a laser beam.
The solder (filler material) may also be supplied in wire form.
The process yields a 100% tight joint where the base material dilution is minimal which gives improved resistance to corrosion and wear and also increases durability when used for laser clad metals.
There are many advantages of laser soldering compared with normal soldering, traditional welding or surface hardening.
Provides denser coatings with little to no porosity, finer surfaces, more consistent layer thicknesses and more accurate placement of the coating compared to traditional thermal spray techniques.
The process requires little heat input which gives little dilution, fine microstructures, small heat affected zones (HAZ) and low distortion.
Reduces production cycle = increased efficiency.
In some applications, laser soldering restore parts to their original size without additional manual intervention.
Improves the material's natural resistance to corrosion, wear and oxidation.
The application engineering team at Preco has extensive knowledge in laser welding and metallurgy. Preco has also developed standard laser soldering systems such as the SL Series, ST Series and RT series. Contact us for further information on how we can help you improve production using laser soldering.
Aircraft, automotive, marine, oil & gas extraction industry, infrastructure - road construction, electrical products, restoration of technical products, restoration of engine parts, surface hardening etc.
Carbon steel, carbide compounds, cobalt-based superalloys (Stellite®), stainless steel, titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys.