Laser processing is a high-tech method for removing material from various materials, including metals, plastics, and ceramics. Industrial laser processing has been used in the automotive industry since the 1980s for manufacturing automotive parts.
Laser processing technology has advanced significantly over the years. The global laser processing market reached $4.01 billion in 2022 due to the thriving automotive sector. And many different types of lasers are available that can be used for different applications within the automotive industry.
What Is Laser Processing?
Laser processing is a method of manufacturing that uses a laser to cut, weld, mark, engrave, and treat surfaces. The automotive industry has seen many improvements in quality control due to using lasers in production.
Lasers are used for many different purposes in the automotive industry, including:
- Cutting steel parts with precision accuracy
- Welding metal components together seamlessly
- Marking outlines on parts so they can be easily assembled
It’s fascinating how laser processing solutions have advanced over the years. Laser processing service providers like Novanta Photonics have been developing innovative and cutting-edge solutions across industries, including the automotive industry. These laser processing solutions can have many applications, from laser ablation to cutting and welding.
Effective Welding
Laser processing is a revolutionary technology that can be used in many different industries. For example, laser welding has been used in the automotive industry for decades to provide cost-effective solutions for manufacturers looking to increase production speeds while maintaining high-quality standards.
Laser processing is faster than traditional welding because it uses light-generated heat instead of hot metal pieces being brought together manually or mechanically. This means that parts can be welded together faster than ever by hand or machine tools, saving you time and money.
Additionally, laser beams are extremely precise when targeting specific areas on your part without damaging anything else nearby, which means less waste overall. This makes them ideal for spot welding, where accuracy matters most.
Due to such immense benefits, laser processing is primarily used for welding. According to the International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology, around 70% of the laser usage in industrial laser equipment is used mainly for welding and machining in the US.
Marking and Engraving
Laser marking is a form of laser processing that uses a laser to engrave, mark and etch onto materials. The process can be used for branding, serial numbers, logos, and precise markings on automotive parts.
The use of laser marking technology has been in practice since the 1960s. Still, it has only recently become more affordable for manufacturers to use this technique on their products.
The laser beam causes ablation of the surface at its point of focus. This means it burns away the material without affecting anything else around it. This allows companies like yours to produce high-quality products without waste or scrap left over after production runs have ended.
Precise Cutting
Laser cutting is a fast, clean, and precise method of cutting. It can cut various materials, including steel, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, nickel, and titanium.
Laser processing involves using a high-power laser beam to cut through metal parts. The laser beam does not heat the material being cut but instead melts it at its focal point on contact into a molten pool which cools down quickly into a clean edge that leaves no residue behind like traditional methods do when melting metal with an oxyacetylene torch.
According to an MDPI study, laser cutting’s efficiency is influenced by several factors, including the material’s thickness, cutting speed, gas pressure, etc. Since laser processing of materials allows controlling all these factors seamlessly, the cut precision improves significantly.
Surface Treatment
Laser processing is a powerful tool for surface treatment. Surface treatment is the process of applying a coating to the surface of a material to improve its properties, such as adhesion or corrosion resistance. It can also be used to change its appearance and color or create patterns on the surface using laser radiation.
Laser processing offers advantages over other methods because it allows for high energy densities at low temperatures, which means applying coatings that are impossible with other methods without damaging your product’s structure or performance characteristics.
Additive Manufacturing
Laser processing is used in additive manufacturing, which builds up a part from a series of layers. The laser beam is directed onto the metal powder to melt in laser processing. The melted material solidifies when air exposure and becomes part of the final product. This helps you create complex shapes without assembling them manually, piece by piece.
Laser processing also has applications in plastic parts manufacturing. For example, 3D printing can be used for making prototypes before mass production begins so that you can test them out before committing resources such as money or labor hours to making large quantities of finished products.
One of the most significant advancements in the additive manufacturing field is green laser technology. According to data, green laser technology can be up to 10 times faster than infrared ray laser source.
Inspection and Quality Control
Laser processing is an excellent way to ensure quality control and inspection. It’s an extremely precise method of cutting, drilling, and etching metal parts.
This means you can use laser processes to inspect your products before they leave the factory by checking for any defects or flaws in the manufacturing process. This will help you avoid having defective products on the market that could damage your brand image or company reputation.
You can also use lasers to perform tests on individual parts after they’ve been produced. This allows you to ensure each part meets specific standards before being assembled into larger assemblies like engines or transmissions.
Laser Cladding
Laser processing can help add a thin layer of material to an object. This method can be used for many applications, such as adding a protective coating or decorative finish.
Laser cladding is one such use of laser processing that involves applying a thin metal layer onto another surface. The process takes place in three main steps:
- The object is cleaned.
- It’s coated with plasma to prepare it for adhesion.
- The metal being applied will be melted onto the surface using an infrared laser beam at high temperatures.
Conclusion
Laser processing technology has been around and used in many industries. However, only recently have we seen its application in the automotive industry take off. We expect to see even more benefits as more companies adopt this technology.