Why We Love Laser Beam Welding

I would like to talk about lasers for a while if you don't mind. Remember when lasers were really cool? For a while, our technology was driven by lasers. CD players revolutionized how we listen to music. They were put in everything from super market scanners to eye surgeon's hands. Lasers even became the favorite weapon of advanced civilizations in outer space, thanks to movies like Star Wars and Star Trek. But if I had to pick a favorite movie with lasers? It would be "Laser Beam Welder".

Below is a video of laser beam welding in action:

Laser Beam Welding and Associate Jewelers:

For the last few years Associates has been one of the few jewelers in the NW to own a laser beam welder (LBW). We made the investment because the benefits were numerous. When working with traditional torch and solder, it is difficult to make all the precision welds one wants, without risking damaging the surrounding metals or gems. And although torch tip technology has progressed since we have been in the business, it is still impossible to do more advanced welding without total control of what is being heated and how long it is hot. Laser beam welding gives us that control.

Because a laser beam by nature is extremely focused, when we use an LBW, we are only going to be heating the exact spot that we wish to weld. Yes, the surrounding metals get hot through conduction, but it is by far less intense than if we were using a traditional torch. Also, when doing repairs on jewelry that was created using a LBW, it is sometimes necessary for us to use our lasers because the original work is so precise. Another great advantage to using a LBW is that the effected metals do not stay hot for as long. However, if the metal being worked on is carbon steel, LBWs should not be used, as the short heat time will cause them to crack.

Obviously we still use the original torch and solder method when making our jewelry, but we are fortunate enough to have two lasers on site, to use at our (or your) discretion. If you have projects that require the precision of a laser beam welder, please do not hesitate to give us a call for a quote.