LASERDYNE SmartShield™ Welding Nozzle Simultaneously Protects Weld Zone and Laser Beam Delivery Optics — Enhances Laser Welding Capabilities of LASERDYNE Products

LASERDYNE SmartShield™ welding nozzle (patent pending) shown on left simultaneously protects weld metal (right) and beam delivery optics. SmartShield is one of many new features for laser welding applications of the models 795,430BD, and 430 Versa systems. Laserdyne’s fiber laser welding systems provide new capability and flexibility for welding a wide range of metals and alloys.

The patent pending LASERDYNE SmartShield™ welding nozzle protects against excessive oxidation in the weld area, enhancing laser welding capabilities of the family of 3 to 7 axes LASERDYNE laser processing systems. Previously published welding data show that positive results are achieved with effective protection from oxygen in the atmosphere during laser welding of a range of materials, which are highly sensitive to oxidation. These include aluminum alloys, copper alloys, titanium alloys, nickel based super alloys and stainless steels including Types 304 and 316.

SmartShield is the among the newest additions to the line of proprietary LASERDYNE lens and nozzle assemblies. SmartShield provides a high velocity gas barrier that prevents metal sparks from the weld zone from contaminating the protective lens cover slide. Critical to the SmartShield design is that the cross-jet does not contaminate or otherwise interfere with the welding shield gas. The SmartShield nozzle is designed so that it can be used with an entire range of shield gas delivery devices including welding shoe and coaxial gas nozzle tips.

The shielding gas shoe provides a controlled atmosphere for the weld zone when molten and while it is cooling to a temperature at which it will no longer be compromised by the ambient atmosphere. This is important for welding materials, such as titanium alloys, that have a strong affinity for oxygen and nitrogen in the ambient atmosphere. An important benefit of this design of the focusing lens/shield gas assemblies for laser welding is that they can be quickly changed to vary the focused spot size or to change from welding to cutting or drilling.

SmartShield is one of many features from Prima Power Laserdyne to support development of new laser welding applications both with and without filler metal addition.