Laser Welding Machines for Metal

Laser welding: one unit for four operations

LUNA POLARIS 4-in-1 is a handheld laser unit for steel, stainless steel, aluminium and reflective metals. It welds, cleans rust, paint and oxides off the surface, cuts thin sheet and feeds filler wire. The MAX or Raycus source comes in 1.5, 2, 3 or 6 kW, the SUP23T head weighs 0.7–1.3 kg, the fiber is 10 m (15 m optional) or 20 m, the supply is 220 or 380 V, and water cooling with a chiller is included.

The approximate welding depth depends on the source: up to 4.5 mm at 1.5 kW, up to 10 mm at 3 kW and up to 16 mm at 6 kW. The shielding gas is nitrogen or argon. Compared with a conventional MIG set, laser welding gives a narrower seam and a smaller heat-affected zone, so thin sheet distorts less and the seam often needs no dressing. Where a laser really replaces MIG and where it does not is covered in the article on handheld laser welding.

Cleaning here is not a tick-box extra: the same machine takes off rust, scale, old paint and oxides beside the seam — without abrasive and without a cabinet, because the head on a 10–20 m fibre goes to the part. What exactly the laser removes, and when it beats a blast cabinet and when it does not, is covered in the article on laser cleaning of metal.

The Spanish NARGESA MS20 follows the same “welding, cleaning, cutting” idea at 2 kW on a single-phase 220–240 V supply: penetration up to 6 mm in steel and 5 mm in aluminium, cutting up to 4 mm and two feeders for wire up to 2 mm.

Cutting here is a secondary function, for thin sheet and fitting on the spot. The main cutting is done on sheet laser machines and tube cutters. How to compare laser equipment is covered on the laser machines.