What is the difference between air-cooled and water-cooled handheld laser welding machines?

What is the difference between air-cooled and water-cooled handheld laser welding machines?

Both air-cooled and water-cooled handheld laser welding machines have significant applications on the market, each with its own characteristics and shortcomings. Today, we will explore the differences between these two devices and how to choose the right style when choosing.

1. The welding equipment suitable for air cooling and water cooling is different.

The air-cooled cooling equipment has the characteristics of small size, convenient mobility, and low price. Traditional argon arc welding can easily meet the requirements of heat dissipation. But its noise is high, and the temperature cannot be adjusted and controlled, making handheld laser welding machines that require high cooling requirements less suitable. Water cooled cooling equipment, also known as laser chillers, uses water cooling, and the water temperature can be adjusted and set through a temperature controller. It has low noise and is more suitable for handheld laser welding machines with high water temperature requirements for cooling.

2. In terms of later maintenance, air cooling and water cooling are similar.

Nowadays, welding chillers on the market are mostly cabinet models, which can be easily nested inside the welding cabinet. They can be moved synchronously with the laser welding machine, easily solving installation problems. Water cooling adopts a water circulation cooling method, which only requires regular replacement of the circulating water and does not require much maintenance. In terms of cleaning and maintenance, the fans of air-cooled chillers are prone to dust accumulation and require frequent cleaning. Water cooled chillers require regular replacement of purified or distilled water to avoid the formation of scale, and regular cleaning of the cooling fan is required.

3. How to choose between air cooling and water cooling? Which one is more suitable for you?

Air cooling is more suitable for low-power pulse lasers and some also low-power continuous lasers, while water cooling, as a larger heat dissipation method, is more commonly used for high-power lasers, which still needs to be clarified.

The actual cooling effect of air-cooled handheld laser welding machines is weaker compared to water-cooled handheld laser welding machines. The cooling system of a water-cooled laser welding machine uses water flow to cool the laser beam, thereby improving welding speed and efficiency. This cooling method is relatively stable and has better welding quality compared to air-cooled laser welding machines. However, because the cooling system requires the use of water flow, the equipment is relatively heavier and requires more energy.

In summary, there is actually no fixed standard for the selection of water cooling and air cooling, and the selection of suitable styles is often based on the needs of users. If your handheld laser welding machine has a high power, then there is no other choice but to use water-cooled.