What is the difference between laser welding air cooling and water cooling?

What is the difference between laser welding air cooling and water cooling?

1、 Laser welding cooling method

Laser welding is the process of using a high-energy laser beam to focus on the welding area, causing local melting and solidification. During this process, a large amount of heat will be generated, leading to a sharp increase in the temperature of the welding material. To ensure the welding effect and equipment stability, it is necessary to cool the laser.

At present, there are two main cooling methods for laser welding: air cooling and water cooling.

2、 The difference between air cooling and water cooling in laser welding

Cooling method

Laser welding air cooling uses air to cool the laser. The fan dissipates heat from the laser to the external environment through airflow, resulting in a decrease in the temperature of the laser.

Laser welding water cooling is achieved by cooling the laser through an external water cooling device. The water cooling device should have a high flow rate and pressure to quickly remove the absorbed heat.

Applicable scenarios

Laser welding air cooling is suitable for lasers with low power, generally below 2000W, suitable for mild processing and manual operation. Due to the use of natural air for cooling the laser, the equipment has a small volume and is easy to relocate and maintain.

Laser welding water cooling is suitable for high-power lasers, generally exceeding 2000W. The water cooling device can provide continuous cooling capacity, ensuring long-term high-power and stable operation of the laser.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of laser welding air cooling lie in its simple structure, small size, and lower price. However, due to limited heat dissipation capacity, prolonged operation can result in higher temperature rise, which affects the lifespan of the equipment.

The advantages of laser welding water cooling are strong heat dissipation ability and good stability. However, due to the need for additional water cooling devices and pipelines, equipment maintenance and installation are relatively complex and costly.

3、 How to choose the cooling method for laser welding

When selecting laser welding cooling methods, consideration should be given to actual processing needs. For equipment with low power and low usage frequency, laser welding air cooling can meet the requirements while saving costs. For equipment with higher power and requiring long-term continuous operation, laser welding with water cooling is a better choice.

Conclusion

Laser welding adopts different cooling methods for air cooling and water cooling, which are suitable for different scenarios. When users choose laser welding cooling methods, they should choose based on actual needs and equipment characteristics.