Laser Techniques – Overview & Essential Insights

Applications of Laser Technology: A Quick Overview

Laser systems are used across numerous industries, including tool and mold making, medical technology, sensor technology, research, development, education, sheet metal processing, and the automotive sector. The choice of laser technique depends on the application, material, and manufacturing process. This guide explores different laser techniques, when they are used, and which equipment is required.

Laser Processes in Industry & Technology: An Overview

Broadly speaking, the key laser techniques include laser welding, laser hardening, laser cutting, and additive metal manufacturing. Each technique utilizes different types of lasers depending on the process. Here are the most important laser techniques:

Laser Welding: Laser welding uses laser energy (invisible to the human eye) to join various metallic materials. Similar to other welding methods like MIG and TIG welding, laser welding can use shielding gas but does not always require it. Due to its low heat input, precise, strong, and homogeneous weld seams, and excellent process control, laser welding is a widely adopted technology in many industries. For particularly fine structures, micro or precision welding is ideal.

Laser Cladding: Also known as powder deposition welding, laser cladding is used for tool repair and protection. It restores worn-out areas and prevents corrosion by applying a thin layer of metal powder to the surface of tools and components. The laser beam fully and homogeneously melts the powder onto the surface.

Laser Hardening: Similar to laser cladding, laser hardening protects stressed areas from wear and tear without adding extra material. By minimizing distortion, laser hardening enhances the durability of components while maintaining the core toughness of the metal. A subset of this technique is surface layer hardening, which increases the strength of workpieces without making the material brittle.

Laser Cutting: Laser cutting enables precise cutting of various metal materials, regardless of thickness. This technique is especially trusted in the processing of precious metals, as it ensures minimal material loss while delivering high precision. Non-ferrous and colored metals can also be laser-cut, with the laser wavelength playing a crucial role in the process.

Additive Manufacturing: In additive metal manufacturing, material is applied in the form of fine powder to create complex geometries and delicate structures. The process relies on an evenly distributed powder bed, achieving a material density of 99.9%. ALPHA LASER's 3D metal printers are already widely used in industries such as R&D, education, tool and mold making, jewelry, and medical technology.

Differences Between Laser Types

Different manufacturing processes require different types of laser systems. ALPHA LASER offers the following laser solutions:

Open Laser Systems: These stationary, open laser systems provide excellent process control and precise focus on the welding area. They offer optimal accessibility for operators.
Closed Laser Systems: ALPHA LASER’s stationary, closed laser systems ensure maximum safety. The ergonomic seating positions in these systems allow for comfortable operation in any environment.

At ALPHA LASER, we use either Nd:YAG lasers or fiber lasers. Here’s what distinguishes these laser types:
Nd:YAG Lasers: Nd:YAG lasers are solid-state lasers with a host crystal made of yttrium aluminum garnet. Compared to CO2 lasers, their wavelength is ten times shorter, allowing for highly precise work. These lasers are primarily used for manufacturing processes requiring fine structures and operate exclusively in pulsed mode. This type of laser is often associated with conduction welding.
Fiber Lasers: Like Nd:YAG lasers, fiber lasers belong to the solid-state laser category. However, instead of yttrium aluminum garnet, they use a doped fiber core as the active medium. Fiber lasers are mainly applied in laser welding and laser cutting. They can be used for both CW (Continuous Wave) welding and pulsed laser welding, making them suitable for conduction and deep penetration welding.
- Mobile Laser Systems: Our mobile laser systems make laser techniques even more flexible. Depending on the application, location, and accessibility, mobile laser systems can be positioned individually—enabling their use in a variety of industries.

Which Equipment for Which Laser Technique? Our Laser Systems

1200 Watt Laser The 1200 W lasers enable precise welding of wires with a diameter of 1.6 mm - a process comparable to TIG / TIG and MIG welding processes. Open product	Orbital Welding In orbital welding, the laser beam is rotated 360° around the workpiece to be welded without interruption. The movement is programmed. Open product	Create predetermined breaking points The LASERSPINDEL-C/ CL is used for notching, scoring and drilling on rotationally symmetrical components such as connecting rods or crankshaft housings. Open product
Laser Structuring In laser structuring, the laser spindle generates defined geometries in the workpiece surface and roughens the material. This increases the adhesive strength or improves the sliding properties, for example. No cooling media such as water or chemical agents are required. Open product	Laser optics with camera observation The LASERHEAD-K can be connected to any fiber-coupled laser source with a QBH-compatible connector to be integrated into existing machine setups. Open product	Processing head for laser welding and laser cladding The LASERHEAD-L is a laser process head for fully or partially automated laser welding or powder deposition welding. Depending on customer requirements, a wide variety of individually adapted process heads can be assembled. Open product
Scanner optics with temperature monitoring The LASERHEAD-S is a laser processing optics for complex surface processing tasks such as laser hardening, laser welding or laser soldering under temperature control. Also available with wobble function. Open product	Process head for powder deposit welding The LASERHEAD-PP is ideal for coating surfaces with metal powders over large areas or for filling or repairing previously scanned and programmed geometries. A large-area material application can be realized quickly. Open product	ALM Mobile welding laser with short set-up times and great flexibility at work. Open product
AL-CROSS Series Mobile fiber laser for precision laser welding with plenty of storage space and a well thought-out transport concept. Open product	ALFlak Max Mobile laser welding device with extra long reach for welding on large components. Open product	ALFlak \| ALFlak Fiber Laser welding system for programmed or manual welding. Available as Nd:YAG or fiber laser. Open product
AL-Serie Lamp-pumped laser source with flexible and extensive equipment. Available from 120-500 W. Open product	AL-IN The AL-IN is a very flexible and robust laser system for welding small and large components. Open product	AL-TW Stable working table with integrated fiber laser. Available with 300, 450, 600 or 900 Watts. Welding in pulsed mode or in continuous mode is possible. Open product
ALW / ALW Fiber Laser welding in the manufacturing environment without additional safety measures. Choice of laser source and laser power. For workpieces up to 400 kg. Open product	ALV / ALV Fiber Compact laser welding system that can also be placed in a small workshop. And yet everything is included: laser, travel system, extraction and laser safety. For workpieces up to 50 kg. Open product	AL-Q Open product
VLO 60 Compact desktop laser device for manual welding. Open product	ALO If you need to weld long or bulky parts quickly, manually and flexibly, if you are looking for a simple load and want to work in the shielded laser safety area, then the ALO is the ideal device. Open product	AL-ROCK Mobil Robot system for surface hardening or powder deposition welding. Mobile and flexible. Open product
AL-ROCK Modular Modular, stationary robot system for laser hardening and cladding. The machine will be built according to the needs of the customer. Up to 16 axis are possible plus different laser sources. Open product	AL-SWS Interesting and flexible system for the production of sensors. Open product	AL3D-METAL Safe and clean powder handling in 3D printing. Ideal for small series, prototypes, powder evaluation and high-priced metals. Open product

Lucas Reichel

Before embarking on his journey in the realm of industrial engineering at Munich University of Applied Sciences, Lucas Reichel completed an apprenticeship as an electrician. This foundational experience not only equipped him with practical skills but also fueled his interest in the intersection of technology and business.

Furthering his education, Lucas earned a degree as a certified marketing manager, greatly enhancing his expertise and enriching his understanding of how these two fields intertwine. His career path has been diverse, encompassing roles in construction and electrical engineering, technical support, and ultimately leading him to the marketing department at ALPHA LASER.

Since 2016, Lucas has been a key player in the company, leveraging his interdisciplinary background to drive success. In his leadership position, he is responsible for shaping the strategic direction of marketing, crafting innovative concepts across digital and traditional platforms, and enhancing the international brand presence of ALPHA LASER.

What sets Lucas apart is his empathy and strong team spirit, allowing him to connect with people, streamline processes, and create sustainable solutions. His profound understanding of both technology and marketing makes him an essential pillar of the organization, always aiming to merge innovation with customer proximity.

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