Why Laser Welding Outperforms Arc Welding Methods?

Appearance and Weld Depth in Laser Welding

One of the most common reasons why customers initially doubt the quality of laser welding is its low weld profile. “Welds made using this method have much lower height than those using conventional methods, which gives many customers the impression that they are less strong,” says Jiří Rak, Sales Director at FANTECH Europe, s.r.o. in his introduction. He continues: “Laser weld offers a major advantage in terms of weld depth into the base material. While arc welding often relies on filler material for strength, laser welding creates a joint that is much more integrated into the base material itself.” This results in strong welds even with a smaller amount of filler material used.

Strength Testing of Laser Welds

“At FANTECH Europe, s.r.o., which develops and sells FANTECH laser welding machines in EU countries, we offer the opportunity to test laser welding on your own parts free of charge. The customer can then have these parts subjected to various strength tests,” recommends Jiří Rak. The results consistently show that laser welds have at least equal, but often even higher strength compared to welds made using conventional methods.

Practical Example - Laser Weld. vs MIG Weld

“During testing, we compared welds made using laser technology and the MIG method. The image on the left shows a laser weld with a flawless aesthetic finish and deep penetration into the base material. On the right is a MIG weld, where the strength is mainly provided by the filler material, and the base material penetration is minimal,” explains Tomáš Nyilfa, welding specialist at FANTECH Europe. The difference results not only in greater strength of the laser weld but also in reduced material deformation, which has a major impact on the quality and long-term durability of the resulting joints.

Minimal Thermal Impact on Base Material

One of the greatest advantages of laser welding is its low impact on the surrounding material. During the welding process, the base material does not overheat and therefore the deformation is minimal. This is essential in the production of sensitive and precise components, where traditional arc welding could cause undesirable changes to the shape and material properties.