Semi-automatic system improves welding of medical devices

"The Select manual welder provides the right level of automation for our type of production. We use it to develop our process, save the settings, create the fixture and then just run the program repeatedly. It has simplified and accelerated our production while delivering excellent results."

The Coherent Select Manual Welder system uses a solid-state laser that generates significantly less heat input to the part than the GTAW. This eliminates the preheating that is often required with GTAW, as well as the post-weld annealing cycle to minimize or correct for thermally induced stresses or distortions in the weldment. Laser beam welding also prevents discoloration and produces a small, flat and consistent weld seam that is cosmetically appealing and does not need to be ground down afterwards.

When using a Select handheld welder, the operator can weld by hand by holding the workpiece and moving it under the laser beam. In this way, even complex contours that would otherwise require a sophisticated and expensive motion control system can be easily laser welded. Alternatively, the operator can select the semi-automatic mode setting if the size and shape of the workpiece allows it.

Result

Using the Coherent manual welder at Microtech Welding has increased productivity and performance. The laser beam welder also improved weld quality over GTAW welding and reduced the need for post-weld finishing. In addition, laser beam welding makes it easier to weld dissimilar alloys of the same material than GTAW. The system's ability to 'learn' the weld path also facilitates consistent process repeatability and is particularly valuable to Microtech Welding as it speeds up small batch production without the time or cost required to implement full automation. Following the experience with the first welder, Microtech Welding has therefore purchased additional Coherent laser welding systems for its production.

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