The future trend of laser welding process

As a relatively novel joining process, laser welding technology has great potential for innovation. As the price of laser sources drops, it is foreseeable that the application of this technology will become more and more widespread. Now, ordinary consumer products are also joining the ranks of laser welding.

The automotive industry has always been the main market for laser welding technology, and the economic crisis has forced the industry to find and establish more cost-effective production and connection processes. At present, many examples have repeatedly proved that laser welding technology is more cost-effective than other methods. If this trend continues, advanced laser welding technology will accelerate its popularization and development.

The medical technology industry has also shown a strong demand for laser welding technology. This application field has strict requirements on the high cleanliness of the process, and laser welding technology can well meet these requirements. Compared with other commonly used connection technologies, laser welding technology does not generate slag and debris, and does not need to use any adhesives. The welding work can be completed in a clean room, for example, welding balls used for cardiac interventional treatment catheters. Capsules or similar applications strongly illustrate this problem.

Manufacturing microfluidic chips requires a high-precision welding process. Generally, micro-runners cannot be realized by other welding methods, or only costly other non-welding processes can be used. The use of lasers to weld the edges of the micro runners in parallel allows the runners to be formed at the same time as the welding is performed.

In addition, laser welding technology can also be used to weld larger devices, such as car taillights or similar commonly used large plastic parts. Even the welding of large products such as TV casings and washing machines is no longer a problem.