Laser Welding Quick Reference
Parameter planning routes, material properties, shielding notes, safety controls, and conversion charts for setup and troubleshooting.
Laser welding quick reference answer
Use this page to decide which parameter to calculate next. Start with material, thickness, joint type, surface condition, shielding, and safety class; then use the dedicated calculators for heat input, penetration depth, weld width, safety distance, and crack risk.
Parameter Planning Route by Material
| Material | Primary concern | First calculator | Review points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | Heat tint, HAZ behavior, surface finish | Heat input or surface quality | Visual, section, and project acceptance checks |
| Aluminum | Oxide removal, moisture, reflectivity, distortion | Heat input, penetration depth, or weld width | Sectioned penetration, porosity review, and distortion record |
| Carbon steel | Carbon equivalent, rust, restraint, cooling rate | Preheat or crack risk | Thermal plan, hardness or procedure-defined inspection |
| Titanium | Primary shielding, trailing shield, back purge, cleanliness | Surface quality and material preparation | Oxidation/color acceptance, section, and shielding record |
| Copper | Wavelength, coupling stability, heat sinking, tarnish | Penetration depth or weld width | Section, electrical or pull check where relevant, and stability record |
Use this table to choose the next calculator, not as a production process recipe.
Material Thermal Properties
| Material | Melting Point (°C) | Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) | Absorptivity at 1064nm (%) | Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS 304 | 1400-1450 | 16 | 35 | 7.9 |
| SS 316 | 1370-1400 | 16 | 35 | 8.0 |
| Al 6061 | 582-652 | 167 | 8 | 2.7 |
| Carbon Steel | 1425-1540 | 50 | 40 | 7.85 |
| Ti-6Al-4V | 1604-1660 | 7 | 25 | 4.43 |
| Copper | 1085 | 398 | 5 | 8.96 |
| Nickel | 1455 | 91 | 30 | 8.9 |
Shielding Gas Starting Choices
| Material | Primary Gas | Alternative | Flow Planning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel | High-purity argon | Ar + N2 blend option when qualified | Set by nozzle, access, and coverage test | Limits oxidation when coverage is adequate |
| Aluminum | High-purity argon | Helium option when qualified | Confirm with porosity and bead-shape checks | Flow depends on nozzle and part size |
| Carbon Steel | Argon | Ar + CO2 blend when qualified for the process | Confirm with oxidation, porosity, and bead-shape checks | Confirm oxidation, porosity, and bead shape with samples |
| Titanium | High-purity argon | - | Set by primary, trailing, and back-purge coverage | Trailing shield often needed |
| Copper | Argon | Nitrogen when qualified | Confirm with spatter, plume, and surface condition | Shielding interacts with plume and process stability |
Unit Conversion Tables
Power
- 1 kW = 1000 W
- 1 HP = 0.746 kW
- 1 BTU/h = 0.293 W
Speed
- 1 m/min = 16.67 mm/s
- 1 in/min = 0.423 mm/s
- 1 m/s = 1000 mm/s
Energy
- 1 kJ = 1000 J
- 1 kJ/mm = 1 J/μm
- 1 cal = 4.184 J
Pressure
- 1 bar = 100 kPa
- 1 psi = 6.895 kPa
- 1 atm = 101.325 kPa
Laser Safety Classification Controls (GB/T 7247.1-2024 / IEC 60825-1:2014)
| Class | General meaning | Where it appears | Control focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accessible emission is limited under defined operating conditions | Enclosed products and guarded systems | Keep enclosure, labels, and service conditions consistent with the classification |
| 2 | Visible low-power class with exposure assumptions defined by the standard | Visible alignment or pointing devices | Control deliberate viewing and document operator instructions |
| 3R | Reduced margin class that still needs controlled direct viewing | Some alignment lasers | Limit direct viewing and match labels to the product file |
| 3B | Direct beam viewing can be hazardous | Laboratory or process equipment | Set controlled area, eyewear OD, beam stops, and written procedures |
| 4 | Direct, reflected, skin, and fire hazards need controlled-area planning | Open or service-state welding and cutting sources | Use enclosure, interlocks, beam dumps, extraction, access control, and wavelength-specific eyewear |
How to Apply These Tables
These tables provide planning routes and material properties for common laser welding scenarios. Confirm the final setting against the job facts below:
- Joint configuration (butt, lap, fillet)
- Fit-up quality (gap tolerance)
- Part fixturing and clamping
- Production speed requirements
- Quality acceptance criteria
Parameter Confirmation
Pair the tables with calculator outputs when the next decision needs a number:
- Heat Input Calculator: Verify power and speed combinations
- Multi-Variable Analyzer: Compare power, speed, focus, gas, and thickness together
- Protection Distance Calculator: Estimate safety-zone assumptions for the selected laser setup