The welding wire used in a handheld laser welding machine should be selected according to the type and characteristics of the material to be welded. The following are some common suitable welding wires and situations where certain welding wires are not recommended:
**Suitable welding wires** -
1. **Stainless steel welding wires**: When welding stainless steel materials, commonly used stainless steel welding wires such as ER308, ER308L, and ER316L are applicable. ER308 is used for welding 18-8 type austenitic stainless steel, and ER308L is an ultra-low carbon type welding wire, which can effectively prevent intergranular corrosion of the welded joint. ER316L is suitable for welding molybdenum-containing stainless steel, such as 316 stainless steel, and has better corrosion resistance. For example, in the welding of stainless steel products such as kitchen equipment and medical devices, these welding wires are widely used. -
2. **Aluminum alloy welding wires**:
For the welding of aluminum alloys, common welding wires include ER4043, ER5356, ER5183, etc. ER4043 is often used for welding aluminum alloys such as 6061 and 6063, and has good fluidity and hot crack resistance. ER5356 is suitable for welding 5xxx series aluminum alloys and is mainly used in occasions requiring high strength and corrosion resistance, such as the welding of aluminum alloy structures in the shipbuilding and aerospace industries. -
3.**Carbon steel welding wires**:
When welding carbon steel materials, carbon steel welding wires such as H08Mn2SiA can be selected. H08Mn2SiA has good process performance and a certain strength, and is widely used in the welding of carbon steel components in general structures, such as in the mechanical manufacturing and construction industries. -
4. **Copper and copper alloy welding wires**:
When welding copper and copper alloys, S201 (copper welding wire) and S221 (brass welding wire) can be used. S201 is used for the welding of pure copper and can obtain good weld quality and electrical conductivity. S221 is used for the welding of brass, which can effectively prevent the evaporation of zinc and improve the strength and corrosion resistance of the welded joint. It is often used in the welding of copper pipes, copper structural parts, etc.
**Welding wires not recommended for use**
1. **Welding wires that do not match the base metal**:
If a welding wire with a composition that is too different from that of the base metal is used, the properties (such as strength, corrosion resistance, etc.) of the weld metal will not match those of the base metal, failing to meet the usage requirements, and may also lead to welding defects. For example, using a carbon steel welding wire when welding stainless steel will greatly reduce the corrosion resistance of the weld.
2.- **Welding wires with poor surface quality**:
If there are impurities such as oil stains, rust, and moisture on the surface of the welding wire, these impurities will enter the weld during the welding process, resulting in defects such as pores and slag inclusions, reducing the quality of the weld. Therefore, welding wires with unqualified surface quality are not suitable for use in a handheld laser welding machine.
3. - **Welding wires with an excessively large or small diameter**: The diameter of the welding wire should be matched with the welding process parameters and the form of the welded joint. If the diameter of the welding wire is too large, it may lead to an excessive deposition rate and poor weld formation. If the diameter of the welding wire is too small, the welding process will be unstable, the penetration depth will be shallow, and the welding strength requirements cannot be met.
When using a handheld laser welding machine, be sure to select a suitable welding wire according to the specific welding materials and process requirements to ensure the welding quality.
For more questions or need any more info , please contact rayther@raytherlasercutter.com
------------- Mr Joseph Wei