Video: More Mobile Laser Welding

Here is another quick clip of laser welding with our mobile laser welder. 

 

For more information visit us online or call for more information, (401) 781- 4810.

Laser Welding Using the AL Flak

Check out the AL Flak in action! 

With its long axis range, the AL Flak is ideal for welding large machine components.

Learn more online or call us for more information! (401)781-5580

New ALS-100!

Another upgraded machine! The New ALS-100 has an improved optics system. You'll find that with this machine you'll have more room for workpieces within the chamber. A now removable safety housing makes this machine perfect for your industrial welding needs!

 

Call us for more details 401-781-4810!

New for 2015! Announcing the EVO Series / BE Model Laser Welder

We are beyond excited to announce the new EVO Series / BE Model for 2015! This new desktop laser welder is an upgrade to the classic EVO Series you all know and love. The 2015 model has a larger entry and chamber giving the user the ability to weld even bigger pieces with a desktop.

Interchangeable pieces for the new beam delivery system allow for a laser welder that is now customizable. With a quick change of a few pieces you're on your way to an even larger chamber!

Visit us online for more information or call us today for pricing - (401) 781-4810

Video: Laser Welding Jewelry

Repair jewelry with ease while using a laser welder! Check out the video below:

 

Visit us online or call us at (401) 781-4810 for more information and pricing!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Laser Welding? 

 Laser Welding is the fusing of metals using light as the energy source. Laser is the acronym meaning Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. We are using a machine that creates a beam of light (1064 nm wavelength) to weld and fuse metals together, almost instantaneously!

Why may I want or need a Laser Welder?

Laser Welders allow the user to assemble or repair jewelry (or any metal items) very quickly, and very efficiently. The laser beam is very small (.2mm minimum diameter) and the heat zone is very minute. This allows you to apply heat in areas you normally wouldnt with a torch, such as near gemstones, springs, enamels, antiques, eyeglasses, etc. The weld is three times stronger then solder, and there is no fire scale, boraxing, pickling etc. Preparation work is minimal and clean up is with a rubber wheel and an ultrasonic. Most jewelers are telling us that they are at least 50% or more productive with a laser welder.

Should I get rid of my torch if I get a laser?

No! The laser is to be added to your tools to give you greater capability. It was not designed to replace your torch. There are many times when the laser can be used in conjunction with the torch. Such as, positioning a peg setting with the laser and then soldering it in place so that the solder runs up and around the peg and gives that nice round and smooth filling appearance.

How hard is it to use a laser? What is the learning curve?

The laser is very user friendly and the learning curve is relatively quick. Someone can be welding in a matter of minutes but to become efficient takes a few weeks with an hour or so of practice each day. This may vary depending on the user and the complexity of the applications being attempted.

How is the energy of a laser measured?

The energy is measured in units called joules. A joule is how many watts of power is being put out for how long of a duration (voltage and milliseconds). It takes anywhere from 4 to 8 joules to weld platinum. It takes upward of 30+ joules to work with silver. 

Can you laser weld titanium? 

Yes you can laser weld titanium but you have to use Argon as a shielding gas to prevent oxidation. If you have any oxidation when you weld titanium the weld will look good but it will be brittle. It is also important to know that there are many grades of titanium and you will find that some work better then others. When repairing eyeglasses made from titanium you may find that you will need to introduce a bonding material. We use hard silver solder or white gold.

Why does white gold get cracking around the weld or simply not hold together?

When welding with white gold you have to use low power settings or you can cook or crystallize the metal. You need to use low voltage and low milliseconds. A small amount of "black" around the weld is acceptable but having a lot of "black" and looking like Lava rock, means that you have too much power. Argon shielding gas can not help with welding white gold. It can only hide the fact that you have too much power.

Why does some gold require different settings than others?

It depends on the alloys used to make the gold. Red gold or rose gold uses a lot of copper and copper is very conductive so it requires higher power and time settings. Green gold uses a lot of silver and silver is also highly conductive and reflective.

What about welding silver?

Silver is one of the most difficult metals to weld because it is highly conductive and reflective. Some tricks for working with silver is to use a blue or black permanent marker to mask the area where you are welding to help cut down on the reflectivity And absorb more of the light rays (think of wearing a black tee shirt out on a sunny day).It is also useful to use Hard silver solder wire as a bonding agent when working with silver. If you cant use solder then try to use a very fine diameter silver wire (30 gauge or smaller).The smaller the diameter the less energy needed to fuse it to the parent metal.

Can you laser weld stainless steel?

Yes! Stainless steel welds very easily and with low power settings. Sometimes it is a good idea to use argon shielding gas to prevent oxidation and impurities in the weld that make it brittle.

Can you size rings using a laser welder?

Yes! Sizing a ring can easily be done on a welder although it must be done properly with sufficient penetration into the shank. Sizing with a welder can take more time than with a torch, but the sizing will be stronger. With no discoloration due to the solder(especially with platinum), and you dont have to worry about high heat destroying other components on the ring such as gemstones.

I see "Laser Radiation" stickers on the machine. Is this radiation dangerous?

The radiation is not dangerous in the sense of toxic or electromagnetic radiation such as x-rays and gamma rays. It can be harmful to your eyes if directly exposed to the light rays. These lasers welders are technically Class IV Lasers because your hands are exposed to the light rays and can possibly be burned. Your eyes are protected in many ways. There is an LCD safety shutter that blocks the light rays on each pulse (this is the blinking you see on the screen when the machine is firing). There are also protective coatings on all optics and glass in the optics path that will not allow the dangerous wave lengths to reach your eyes.

 Don't forget to visit our website for more info!

Maintaining Your Laser Welder

Keeping your laser welder clean is so important. A clean laser welder will run smoother and have less issues down the road. Not to mention, a dirty machine can shorten its "life expectancy".
Follow these simple steps to maintain your laser welder. We suggest marking the cleanings on a calender so you don't forget the last time you checked these areas.

Every Two Weeks:

1. Clean lens protector - 91% isopropyl alcohol
2. Check water level in rear. If you need to add water, remove the small metal plate in rear, pull out, remove both red caps and add distilled water only.
3. Check if the air filter in the chamber needs replacing (probably not) - This step is simply a visual inspection. 

Every Six Months:

1. Change the water - remember distilled only
1. There are 2 hoses in the rear and 1 drain hose in the bottom
2. Clean the charcoal filter on the bottom and vacuum out screens. Use a compressor to blow out the charcoal filter - do not use water!

Laser Engravers

We carry two laser engraver models, the Fiberscan and the Firescan. Each have multiple housing options as well as additional equipment options. Visit our "Laser Engravers" page for more information on each model. Feel free to give us a call, (401)781-4810, with any questions or for a price quote!

Updates!

Hi Everyone,

So we've been back from the JCK Las Vegas show for a week now and just wanted to send a big thanks out to everyone we met while we were there. Let us know if you need anything in the future!

We hope everyone is doing well. Have a great day!

Add us to your JCK schedule!

We will be attending the JCK Las Vegas show in one month and we hope to see you there!

 

May 30 - June 2, 2014

Booth: B6468

 

View our JCK profile and while you are there add us to your JCK Schedule.

 

What are the advantages of laser welding?

The laser beam is very small, 0.2mm minimum diameter, and the heat zone is very minute resulting in localized energy input even in very fine structures. This allows you to apply heat in areas you normally wouldn't with a torch, such as near gemstones, springs, enamels, antiques, eyeglasses, etc.

Learn more at our "Applications" page!

Visit Us!

We'll be at the MJSA New York expo March 9 - March 11, 2014. Come see us at the Hilton New York, booth 1118.

Laser Welding: Jewelry

Laser welders are making waves in the jewelry industry. Everyday jobs are accomplished faster, easier, and better. All this results in your shop being more profitable. Watch to find out what all the buzz is about!

How Laser Welders Are Impacting Jewelry Manufacture And Repair in The 21st Century

by Suzanne Wade - © MJSA Journal

Zap! With a flash of light, Mike Calcote of Hallmark Jewelers in Lafayette, Louisiana, repairs tennis bracelet links without removing the stones or running the risk of solder flowing into the hinge and destroying its mobility.

Hagop Matossian, owner of Bostonian Jewelers and Manufacturers Inc., formerly Hagop Settings, in Boston, repairs an antique enameled pin without damaging the enamel or leaving visible signs of the restoration work.

And Robert Aletto, owner of jewelry manufacturer Aletto & Co. in Boca Raton, Florida, attaches earring clips in one step instead of the two necessary when soldering, making his line of 14k and 18k gold jewelry more profitable.

The one tool that allows each of these jewelers to do their jobs better is a laser welder, a technological advancement that is becoming increasingly common in trade shops and manufacturing facilities. By using a sharply focused beam of light to produce very high heat in a small area, lasers are allowing jewelers to routinely accomplish tasks that would once have been either impossible or too time consuming to be worthwhile.

"It's like performing microscopic surgery on jewelry," says Matossian. "We can work very close to heat-sensitive stones without damaging them. Because you're working under a microscope and because you're able to adjust the laser beam from two-tenths of a millimeter up to two millimeters in diameter, you can keep complete control of where you're firing the laser. We can work as close as half a millimeter away from heat-sensitive stones."

With this ability, repairs that once required multiple steps-disassembling a piece, unsetting the stones, completing the repair, then re-setting the stones-can now be completed in a single step. For example, says Calcote, emerald cluster rings can be repaired in about five minutes, as opposed to the hours it can take to remove and re-set the stones.

That time savings translates into higher productivity and a more profitable workshop. "It saves money when I don't have to pull stones. I don't have to worry about breaking stones, and I don't risk frying stones," says Richard Thurber, president of Artisans Designs in Portland, Oregon. "[Torch repairs] have a lot of steps to them, but with the laser you can just weld it all, and it goes a lot quicker."

The laser's concentrated heat also facilitates delicate repairs without risking further damage to fragile antique jewelry. "You can repair missing bridgework in antique filigree pieces without solder," says Calcote. "With a torch, you just can't do a nice job [with this type of repair]."

For valuable antique jewelry, that ability can make a tremendous difference in the piece's value. "Once you remove the stones from a piece of jewelry, you're totally ruining the integrity of that piece," says Matossian. "No matter how good you are, you're never going to get it back together as it was before you started. With the laser welder, you're keeping the integrity of the piece by not removing heat-sensitive stones, and you're able to keep the patina, the look that an old piece of jewelry has. That patina tells a story, and when you're trying to repair or restore that piece with a conventional torch, you lose it. The piece of jewelry gets oxidized, the colors change, [and] you need to polish the piece. So now a piece that's 200 years old looks like a new piece."

Not only can lasers help maintain the look of antique jewelry in need of repair, but also that of newer designs. Chuck Leigh owner of Leigh's Jewelry in Montgomery, Alabama, finds that the laser is ideal for repairing mesh bracelets. "You'll have wire poking up, and with the laser you just poke it back and zap it quickly," he says. "You don't lose the intricacy of the design, which you would if you had solder flowing through [the mesh]." But it's not just in jewelry repair that lasers are proving invaluable. Jewelers are discovering that laser welders can save time and money in jewelry manufacture.

"With the accuracy of the laser, we can do very complicated pieces and diamond intensive pieces, and be able to assemble them after the diamonds are set," says Jonathan Suna of Suna Brothers in New York City. "You're also able to polish the pieces properly [as individual components] before assembly, which creates a better finished item. You can [assemble] with a torch, but we find it's very quick and very easy [with the laser]."

In addition to aiding in assembly, laser welders can also repair defects. Aletto has found that one of the best advantages of the laser welder is its ability to remove all traces of porosity. "I've got some of the best equipment you can get, and I follow proper [casting] procedures, but no matter how hard you try, sometimes you get some sort of porosity," he says. "If the porosity holes come out later [in the fabrication process], and you need to repair a piece with stones like ametrine or citrine, you're going to have to cover the stone or take it out of the setting, subjecting it to the possibility of breaking. With the laser, in milliseconds you can fuse the hole and you're done."

For jewelry designer Steven Kretchmer of Palenville, New York, the laser welder helps to quickly and easily repair minor defects in his patented tension-set rings. "If I have to weld with a plasma arc welder to repair a defect in a heat-treated ring, I have to completely re-heat-treat the ring through multiple heat treatments, re-finish it, re-set the stone, and then who knows-maybe I'd come across another defect," says Kretchmer. Because the laser welder heats only the target area, it can make the same repair without undoing the effects of the heat treatment the ring has already undergone.

In addition, using the laser welder saves Kretchmer time. "With the laser welder, that ring will go out the same day instead of two days later," he says.

Laser owners are continuously discovering new uses for their welders that save them time, money, and toil. Here are just some of the specific ways jewelers have put their laser welders to use:

Re-tipping. Jewelers have long re-tipped gold prongs near diamonds without removing the diamonds from their settings. This technique can be chancy with platinum prongs and impossible with heat sensitive stones such as emerald and opal. The laser's concentrated heat, however, makes it possible to use this technique with almost any setting.

"There's a fine line between where platinum melts and the maximum temperature a diamond can take," says Matossian. "With a torch, you can easily go over that line just enough to frost up that diamond. [With a torch], the only way to build up was to melt solder to build up the prong, or to add a piece of platinum using lower temperature solder to bond the joints. With the laser welder, I can actually melt [platinum] right onto that prong and create prongs that look just like the day the ring was made, even though it might be 80 or 100 years old."

Repairing costume jewelry. Leigh notes that with his laser, he can repair CZ-mounted vermeil bracelets-a task he would never have undertaken before because of the amount of time involved. "With a torch repair, you'd have to re-set the stones," he says. "But with the laser, you can do it with the stones in place because it doesn't transfer enough heat to the metal to damage the stones."

"I used to discourage people with sterling silver and CZ pieces that broke from doing [repair] work. By the time you unset the stones, re-polished, [and] re-plated, it got to be expensive. With the laser, you can easily do the repair, you don't end up having to re-plate the piece, and you don't have to unset and re-set the stones-and it gives you a neat and clean repair."

Calcote, too, has found the laser to be an indispensable repair tool, adding that he hasn't come across a piece of jewelry that he can't repair with a laser welder. He's even used the laser to flow lead solder into a costume jewelry piece by turning the power of the beam down and using the widest beam available. That ability has enabled him to repair costume pieces with glass stones that a torch would overheat and destroy.

Repairing stainless steel. "One thing we just couldn't do well before [laser welders] is [repair] watches with deployment buckles, where the rivet holding the strap piece on has come off. Most are stainless steel, and stainless steel is difficult at best to solder," says Leigh. "Now we can put the rivet back in and just use the laser to tack rivet on both sides."

Matossian has found that he can repair stainless steel watch bands that once would have needed to be replaced. "In the past, when we had links that separated, we had to call the manufacturer and order a whole new bracelet," says Matossian. "Now we're able to weld components like that back together."

Creating made-to-order pieces. For Kretchmer, the laser is the key tool that permits him to cost-effectively make pieces to order. "I make pieces that could be either a pendant or a brooch, and I show them at shows without the findings on them," he says. "Then I ask [the customer], 'Do you want a pendant or a brooch?' And I can go home and weld on the findings without affecting the finish, leaving the stones in place."

Tacking components before assembly. Even when traditional soldering is the best way to join two pieces-when you have a complex piece that requires deep welds, for instance-laser welders can make the task significantly easier. "We've all dreamed of being able to hold something in your hand while you solder it instead of having to use binding wire or jigs or tweezers," says Kretchmer. "The laser allows you to tack things in place before you bring [the piece] back to the charcoal block and flow solder, so it reduces the need for binding wire and jigs."

For example, says Leigh, the laser makes it much easier to assemble rings with multiple heads. "These are hard to assemble because there are a number of closely associated solder joints, and if you solder the piece, sometimes the solder slips," says Leigh. "The laser is nice because you can hold the pieces [in your hand], line up [the heads], and then tack them."

Fixing mistakes. "If a prong breaks when you're setting a stone, it's not a problem-you can just zap it with the laser," says Calcote. He also relies on the laser to rebuild castings that have not completely filled, using it to add metal wherever the fill was incomplete. "Before you'd have to just start over, right down to carving the wax," Calcote observes. "This allows us to save pieces that just weren't feasible to save before."

Rebuilding parts. "It's almost like using a wax pen," says Calcote. "You can melt the metal and move it around, building up just like you would with a wax pen." One piece that Calcote has used this method on is a cluster ring on which half of one of the heads was missing. "With the torch it would have been almost impossible because the spaces would have been filled with solder," he says. With the laser, however, he was able to rebuild the head-without unsetting the stones-out of matching metal.

Removing broken drill bits. "Sometimes you'll break the drill off in the piece, and it's hard to get the drill out without a major problem," says Leigh. He simply turns the beam width of his laser down, turns the power up, and vaporizes any remaining pieces of carbide drill bit in the piece.

Breaking out small diamonds. "Contrary to popular belief, lasers will damage diamonds," observes Kretchmer, who takes advantage of the laser's ability to shatter diamond to remove tiny stones from deep flush settings. "We just blow them up with the laser beam. I hate destroying little diamonds, but it saves the metal work, and then I can do what I have to do and put in a new little diamond."

With so many different uses, it's not surprising that laser welders have become treasured tools in jewelry workshops. "We questioned whether we would need [a laser welder], but it has far surpassed our expectations," says Calcote. "I'd have to say we wouldn't' want to have to be without it [now]." Leigh agrees, noting that he hesitated initially about making the investment. "When we started looking [at lasers], they sounded kind of nifty…but I was apprehensive because of the cost. But once we had it installed, we found it does great things."

With prices starting around $25,000, lasers are still a major investment for most shops. But those who have taken the plunge usually say it's been worth every penny.

"It's right up there with canned beer and sliced bread," says Leigh. "I absolutely would not want to be without it."

Originally appeared in MJSA Journal, the monthly magazine dedicated to professional excellence in jewelry making and design. To learn more, click here.