Coherent Improves Laser Welding With SmartWeld+

SmartWeld+ is an add-on for Coherent StarFiber laser welding products that delivers dramatically improved results, particularly when welding dissimilar or otherwise challenging materials, such as aluminium and copper.

Specifically, for dissimilar materials, SmartWeld+ improves blending of the melt pool for a better metallurgical bond and more consistent results. When welding highly reflective or volatile materials, SmartWeld+ increases process stability and reduces spatter, porosity and cracking, because it produces lower viscosity and reduced surface tension in the melt pool.

The ability of SmartWeld+ to better control energy input into the material also decreases the heat affected zone (HAZ). It is particularly suitable for welding thin, dissimilar and/or temperature-sensitive materials. Additionally, SmartWeld+ simplifies welding workpieces with poor fit-up tolerances since it allows the width and depth of the weld seam to be controlled independently of the focused laser spot size. Together, these features make SmartWeld+ a candidate for precision welding in medical device manufacturing, microelectronics fabrication, e-mobility production and even watchmaking.

SmartWeld+ comprises a processing head, containing fixed beam delivery optics and a galvanometer scanning module, together with sophisticated software for producing a variety of pre-programmed patterns, which move well beyond beam wobble to encompass spirals, ellipses and other complex shapes. Furthermore, the pattern size and orientation can be controlled to follow part contours and achieve constant weld quality and seam dimensions.

SmartWeld+ integrates smoothly with Coherent StarFiber products and significantly extends their capabilities. The combination of fast scanning (up to 4kHz) and high-precision motion makes SmartWeld+ particularly suitable for on-the-fly adaptation.

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