Mülheim-Kärlich, Germany 20.02.2019 – As the international leading developer and manufacturer of diode lasers for industrial material processing, Laserline continues to strengthen its outstanding market position. For instance, with immediate effect, the world’s first blue cw diode lasers with up to 1 kW output power have been made available as the high-power lasers of the LDMblue series. The lasers operate with a light wavelength of 450 nm, and are the first industry lasers capable of making a controlled heat conduction welding of high reflexive nonferrous metals such as copper and gold. Thus, especially at the joining of thin copper bondings as used, for example, in battery technology for electric vehicles, these lasers offer new and more efficient manufacturing options. Finely tuned power regulations within milliseconds and extraordinary calm melt pools will ensure smooth-seam areas with excellent electrical conductivity, thereby rendering the laser systems interesting as well for design-oriented applications in visible areas. Furthermore, the diode lasers of the LDMblue series have also been successfully tested in cladding processes based on non-ferrous metals.
Supported by the german government research programme EffiLAS (Efficient high-power laser beam sources), the new laser series was developed by Laserline together with Osram and other project partners. The LDMblue diode lasers are available in three standard configurations with 1,000, 500 or 300 W output power at beam qualities of 100 or 60 mm·mrad (LDMblue 1000-100 / 500-60 / 300-60). Thanks to the compact LDM design for the 19‘‘ rack, the LDMblue lasers can easily be integrated in a space-saving manner into all common production plants. You can find detailed information about the Laserline LDMblue series online at www.laserline.com/ldm-blue.
Up till now, joining thin non-ferrous metal components using classic infrared lasers was only possible via a modified deep welding process with material reinforcements in the seam area. This was due to the strong reflexion in the infrared spectrum which required high energy inputs. However, light in the blue spectrum is absorbed by non-ferrous metals twenty times stronger than by infrared radiation. Thus, compared to conventional infrared lasers, less energy is obviously necessary for fusing the workpiece surface. Even the thinnest copper components can be joined in this way without artificial material reinforcement.
