Lazer Welders

vyv_cox

Well-known member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
25,849
Location
France, sailing Aegean Sea.
coxeng.co.uk
Anyone tried one of these new lazer welders? They look too good to be true looking at some of the facebook stuff posted.

I might be in the market if I buy a vintage Land Rover-they always need a bit of welding!
I took a chance on one of the FB offerings. Looked genuine, plenty of believable reviews. Paid up, never heard a word further.
 

samfieldhouse

Active member
Joined
18 Sep 2016
Messages
137
Visit site
Sorry to hear that. With all these things, I'm dubious about anything that proports to be easy to use, simple, quick and ease the workflow, yet somehow isn't in use in any of the fabrication workshops here abouts.
 

Scarron

Active member
Joined
22 Jun 2003
Messages
595
Visit site
I have used EMP to laser weld a cracked aluminium head, they are very highly regarded by the classic and vintage car restoration industry and it took them two goes to get it right. So I wouldn't think it would be an easy DIY solution.
Emsworth Mould Polishing
 

rogerthebodger

Well-known member
Joined
3 Nov 2001
Messages
13,459
Visit site
I have used EMP to laser weld a cracked aluminium head, they are very highly regarded by the classic and vintage car restoration industry and it took them two goes to get it right. So I wouldn't think it would be an easy DIY solution.
Emsworth Mould Polishing

Interesting.

I do MIG TIG and stick welding of all steels including Stainless steel, but the precision interests me in welding thin metals that TIG would burn through

The cost of the equipment is at the moment too high for me
 

rotrax

Well-known member
Joined
17 Dec 2010
Messages
15,808
Location
South Oxon and Littlehampton.
Visit site
Years ago - 1976 to 1983 - I worked for Kawasaki UK Ltd. Some engine bits were Electron Beam Welded. Results were outstanding, only blob was where it started and finished welding a central boss onto a starter gear. Bi-metal hacksaw blades were also Electron Beam Welded in a continuous strip. Precursor to Lazers I suppose.
 

William_H

Well-known member
Joined
28 Jul 2003
Messages
13,962
Location
West Australia
Visit site
Interesting. Laser cutters are relatively common place simply melting and blasting through the metal or other material. The question can it be controlled to heat and melt the substrate before adding a rod of material to be also melted into the join. As said perhaps not so easy. ol'will
 

DinghyMan

Well-known member
Joined
24 Jan 2006
Messages
1,769
Location
West Yorkshire
www.ff-systems.co.uk
Nothing for sale on Facebook is kosher. Apart from Marketplace.
My test when buying anything is, is it available using Paypal. If it is then it is genuine and if not you can get your money back.
My experience was that with paypal you might get your money back but lots of people seem to know how to play the paypal system to prevent them having to refund you
 

earlybird

Well-known member
Joined
18 Aug 2004
Messages
3,908
Location
Cumbria; U.K.
Visit site
How much do these laser welders cost, and what power are they? I'd have thought that anything capable of useful work would be way beyond a DIY budget, as well as the H & S implications.
 

Bouba

Well-known member
Joined
6 Sep 2016
Messages
42,270
Location
SoF
Visit site
First time I have researched laser welders....the upside is the ability to do perfect seams....the downside is the cost, complexity and bulk of the equipment
 

earlybird

Well-known member
Joined
18 Aug 2004
Messages
3,908
Location
Cumbria; U.K.
Visit site
A laser welder, as a home workshop tool, is new to me. Looking at the prices, £5K upwards, I don't think I'll be investigating any further. A £700 "Laser Welder" on ebay seemed to be a fairly normal mig set @200amps. with the word Laser written on the case. What sort of safety precautions are needed for lasers claimed to be in the kW range?
 

Bouba

Well-known member
Joined
6 Sep 2016
Messages
42,270
Location
SoF
Visit site
A laser welder, as a home workshop tool, is new to me. Looking at the prices, £5K upwards, I don't think I'll be investigating any further. A £700 "Laser Welder" on ebay seemed to be a fairly normal mig set @200amps. with the word Laser written on the case. What sort of safety precautions are needed for lasers claimed to be in the kW range?
I’m hoping that they will come down in price....I have a plasma cutter in my home workshop (in fact it’s my second, and have had them for nearly twenty years) they used to be the preserve of professional shops
 
Top