Opinions on laser welders | Practical Machinist

Looking for opinions on buying a New, good quality laser welder for a reasonable price.

I am considering buying a laser welder for my shop. I will not be doing industrial grade work or anything that requires certification. I do occasional die grade repairs on tool steels, titanium, precious metals, stainless steels etc. I'm not looking for a ROI that makes sense, but I'm looking to spend @ $15K and looking to find any brands I am not familiar with made in America, Spain, Italy or Germany. I'm looking at a Sunstone/Orion LZR75 for example.
I don't really want to get involved with a used machine with no history.
Any questions or answers would be appreciated.
Ron

Hi ishane:
Were you aware MachineMfg is a Chinese site?
The evidence is hard to find, but the Terms and Conditions page reveals it (aside from the quirky language and the obvious bias toward Chines laser manufacturers)
Here's a snip from the website.
View attachment

Now I have nothing intrinsic against Chinese equipment manufacturers, but in this domain, their reliability has apparently been an issue.
So I recommend caution when reviewing purchasing advice from this kind of source.

Cheers

Marcus
Implant Mechanix • Design & Innovation > HOME
Vancouver Wire EDM -- Wire EDM Machining

I feel like in your price range you won't be able to get away from Chinese stuff.

Though my domain is cutters, not welders. IPG LightWELD is about 30k USD. That is the only American/Russian/German CW laser Welding system I know about. watts, but probably only for Chinese market.

Chinese systems are about 10k usd. They can be cheaper because they use chinese laser source like Raycus and such. And chinese components that are not necessarily worse off, just simpler. But I suppose you wont be able to find non-Chinese components for a handheld laser welding system.

There are many more system integrators than you can start to imagine because it is actually a very simple system. It is just totally unsave to operate kilowatt laser handheld, without enclosure. So that may hinder Western system integrator for the time being. I don’t even know if it is legal in many countries. Hi TommyLaserIndo:
That watt machine is a continuous wave laser that kind of works like a TIG torch but using coherent light rather than electrical current as the heat source.

What the OP is looking for (I know this because we had a long conversation on the subject) is a pulsed glovebox machine like mine which is about 60 watts.

The general problem with lasers over other types of welders is that a Class 4 laser (the most dangerous) needs a lot of precautions to be run safely and the handheld continuous wave lasers are by far the worst in that regard.

The specific problem is that you can be blinded just as badly from 50 feet away as from inches away...it's a beam of light, all of one wavelength and all traveling in exactly the same direction, so the beam is only very slightly degraded over distance.
Also anything reflective is a super nasty hazard...things like metal....the metal you hope to weld!

Pulsed lasers like mine typically come enclosed with all kinds of interlocks so they can be operated safely in an uncontrolled environment (Class 1 laser).

So the IPG Lightweld is not a machine for casual purchase...the promo literature from the company glosses over that fact, but it and all un-enclosed class 4 lasers (including the un-enclosed pulsed ones) demand all sorts of complicated shit you don't need for something like a a TIG torch, for example.

So sadly, it's not a reasonable purchase for the OP...he needs a glovebox machine, and since he's a knifemaker interested in repair and micro fabrication, he wants a 60 watt, pulsed unit like mine.

Cheers

Marcus
Implant Mechanix • Design & Innovation > HOME
Vancouver Wire EDM -- Wire EDM Machining In general, industry is quite relaxed about the UV light emission from arc welding, MIG, TIG and SMAW, but it is quite harmful to unprotected eyes and skin. Lasers on the other hand get a little more respect for some reason. ANSI Z136.1 describes the safe use of lasers. An industrial welding laser utilizes a focus lens of relatively short focal length. The laser power rapidly diverges past the focus point. ANSI Z136.1 provides a few equations where, with the particulars of the laser in question, the safe distance for an unprotected party from the source can be calculated. With the lasers that we are discussing here it’s probably well short of 50 feet. ANSI Z136.1 is the document that talks about what Class 1 and Class 4 means. If you buy a Class 4 machine exposure safety is your responsibility. Some take safety seriously but many less so just like arc welding.

Some terminology: A “glove box” is one where the internals are sealed and inert gas filled. Sealed gloves are provided to do work inside the box. A laser “hand welder” is often used for die repair and other small part welding as you hold and move the part with your hands while welding. There are cuffs around your wrists with interlocks provided to keep your eyes protected. Your hands are exposed so they are Class 4 machines. There is a special “Yelp!” that a user emits after getting zapped in the finger. Just like with TIG.

Porschefix, Take a look at LaserStar, (I have no affiliation). US made and offer considerable support. You need to find a little more money. A laser hand welder is much easier to use than TIG and can weld a greater variety of items.

Ike

Looking for opinions on buying a New, good quality laser welder for a reasonable price.

I am considering buying a laser welder for my shop. I will not be doing industrial grade work or anything that requires certification. I do occasional die grade repairs on tool steels, titanium, precious metals, stainless steels etc. I'm not looking for a ROI that makes sense, but I'm looking to spend @ $15K and looking to find any brands I am not familiar with made in America, Spain, Italy or Germany. I'm looking at a Sunstone/Orion LZR75 for example.
I don't really want to get involved with a used machine with no history.
Any questions or answers would be appreciated.
Ron

we have an IPG at work, so far its been pretty good. I bought a Varibend 2k laser welder about a year ago for around $21k total and use it more or less every day, all day. Basically came with no instructions but I figured it out over time. No complaints at all but there are a few things you should know in advance like beware of reflections and only wear leather gloves.
It does get hot at 2k easily remedied by dipping the tip on a wet sponge. It has paid for itself many times over in terms of speed and not overheating the stainless for very high quality welds. I hardly ever pick up my tig torch. Oh, also, it's about as difficult to use as a hot melt gun. Thanks!

Looking for opinions on buying a New, good quality laser welder for a reasonable price.

I am considering buying a laser welder for my shop. I will not be doing industrial grade work or anything that requires certification. I do occasional die grade repairs on tool steels, titanium, precious metals, stainless steels etc. I'm not looking for a ROI that makes sense, but I'm looking to spend @ $15K and looking to find any brands I am not familiar with made in America, Spain, Italy or Germany. I'm looking at a Sunstone/Orion LZR75 for example.
I don't really want to get involved with a used machine with no history.
Any questions or answers would be appreciated.
Ron

I have two Sunstone jewelry welders that have always worked as stated for the last fifteen years - they are now more or less superseded by the Varibend fiber laser which can be set to any level up to watts. However, if you are doing really tiny stuff the Sunstones are the right machine.

We are looking to buy a laser welder and would any on
what questions to ask a manufacture besides the obvious application
capabilities. Also would like some input from owners of welders as
to whether they feel the purchase was worth it as an asset. My
employer is worried this might be just a novelty thing going around
and I could use some testimonials to support such an investment. Any
input good or bad would be appreciated. Sincerely Ana

With competitive price and timely delivery, Huiyao Laser sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Note From Ganoksin Staff:
Looking for a laser welder for your jewelry projects? We recommend:

• Reading our guide to the Best Laser Welder Tools Review for jewelry work here
• Searching for more discussions about Laser Welders here on the Orchid forum

Hello Ana, My name is Justin McCamis, I work for Rofin-Baasel, Inc.,
in Boxborough, MA. I am more than happy to send you on
our laser welders. Please either, me some contact info, or
call me Monday morning on my office line.

Justin McCamis
978-206- (direct)

The laser will be one of the best investments you’ve ever made for
your business. Once you use one, you will never go back to the way
you used to do things. I will put you in contact with as many
customers references as you need, to help prove that.

Best Regards,
Justin

Ana

The Laser welder is far from being a novelty , it has become a very
important asset to are company. It has increased are repair business
110 %. Chain repairs are done quickly with no fire scale , ring
sizing done quickly with out the need for boric acid & alcohol ( fire
coat ), heat sensitive stones aren’t a concern when working on HEAVY
pieces that require a lot of heat other wise. Fabricating is so easy
with the welder because you can position pieces with a quick tack and
check it for proper alignment. We sell quite a bit of sterling charms
which are Rhodium plated , with the laser the charms can be put on
and the plating is unaffected. I have even started repairing metal
eyeframes ( titanium) and doing quite well with it.

The industry has changed and to be competitive you need the
technology to service your clients with the quality the Laser welder
can offer and the speed you will ENJOY !! ( gez,I sound like a
commercial )

The Laser welder will never go obsolete in your shop there will
always be something you can repair with this tool. It took us a full
year to make the quantum leap and all I can say is WHY DID WE WAIT SO
LONG !!! : O Just my 2 cents : )

Call CRAFFORD - LASER STAR
for 401-438-
ask for Louise Pichierri
sales tech.

For more information, please visit Laser Welding Machine.

    We are looking to buy a laser welder and would any information
on what questions to ask a manufacture besides the obvious
application capabilities. Also would like some input from owners of
welders as to whether they feel the purchase was worth it as an
asset. My employer is worried this might be just a novelty thing
going around and I could use some testimonials to support such an
investment. Any input good or bad would be appreciated.  
Sincerely Ana 

Well, I suspect you are going to get a lot of feed back on this one!
At Smith & Bevill, we studied this quite a bit. We ended up buying a
welder from B&D in New York. It is very intuitive to operate and the
backup/tech support is beyond reproach. The machine quickly became
indispensable, for repairing casting defects, sizing/repairing
platinum mountings with stones in place, tacking components in place
for soldering, and repairing antique pieces, just to name a few. The
trick is to charge for repairs as though you did not have the
machine. If you would normally have to remove heat sensitive gems to
solder on something, charge as though you had to r&r. You weld
instead of solder, the customer gets a better job, and you pay for
you technology. Spike Cornelius Portland, Or. RC ArtMetal

Dear Ana: LaserStar Technologies’ is the leading supplier to the
North American Marketplace for today’s manufacturing jeweler. Since
we have been providing our cleints with THE POWER OF HOT LIGHT
to revolutionize the jewelry industry.

Please feel free to contact us and learn more about our many
satisified cleints and how we have changed their lives…you can
learn more at www.laserstar.net

Be sure to ask about our new Series LaserStar Compact 60 Joule
and 80 Joule machines. These turnkey welding systems offer an
excellent value for your investment dollar and are designed to
operated 24 hours a day.

LaserStar Technologies also offer a complete LaserStar Learning
Center as well as a 24/7 Customer Support Help Desk.

	Crafford - LaserStar Technologies
	One Industrial Court
	Riverside, RI USA 
	: 401-438-
	:  

	Crafford - LaserStar Technologies
	West Sixth Street, Suite 
	Los Angeles, CA 
	: 213-612-
	:  

Thank you for your consideration of Crafford - LaserStar
Technologies.

Sincerely,
James E. Gervais

        We are looking to buy a laser welder and would any
on what questions to ask a manufacture besides the
obvious application capabilities. Also would like some input from
owners of welders as to whether they feel the purchase was worth it
as an asset. My employer is worried this might be just a novelty
thing going around and I could use some testimonials to support
such an investment. Any input good or bad would be appreciated.
Sincerely Ana 

Ana, I would have to say that a laser welder today is as
indespensible as a torch in jewelry making. We ha ve been very happy
with the lasers that B&D offers ( many companies make the m today and
many are similar, it comes down to personel preference and custo mer
service). We have at least 20 of them at our manufacturing locations
and they are used for everything from casting repairs to retipping
prongs to fu ll blown assembly of product. A laser welded joint is
actually stronger than a soldered joint when done correctly. Tell
your boss to go for it. It’s a n o brainer.

Tino Volpe Metallurgist, Technical Manager Tiffany & Co. 300 Maple
Ridge Drive Cumberland, RI - 401-288-

Martin Stuart and Co has been developing a laser welding/cutting
tool that he feels breaks new ground. There was some talk some time
ago about using lasers to cut silver, which has been problematic?
Martin is working on a tool that will have that capability. I’ve
seen the machine but I don’t know if it is in production or not at
this particular moment. The tool is very expensive for a small shop,
but according to Martin les expensive and more capable than others.
I dunno about this technology myself. I think it’s around
$50,000…but I could be off 10,000 or 20,000 . Well! that’s
helpful! If there is interest, I’ll ask Maritn to post something
himself. I don’t know if he is ready to be inumndated with requests
or not or I’s post his #.

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