Two Enterprises Collaborate to Overcome Optical Pollution in Vacuum Laser Welding

Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE), a precision welding equipment company in the UK, and Cranfield University recently announced that they have successfully reached a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), which will provide global engineers with more welding options.

In this cooperation, both parties jointly solved the optical pollution problem in vacuum laser welding, paving the way for the comprehensive industrial application of this technology.

This achievement will not only bring practical benefits to companies seeking deeper penetration welding, but also significantly improve welding quality, reduce oxidation problems, and minimize the time required for cleaning parts after welding.

According to CVE, vacuum laser welding, as a relatively new connection technology, has a welding depth 2-3 times that of traditional laser welding methods. However, the issue of optical pollution has always hindered the widespread application of this technology in industry.

The optical protection system of CVE ensures that the cleanliness of welded components is comparable to that of electron beam welding, while also ensuring a longer lifespan of the laser coupling window. Low cost consumable window, continuously welded at low power (3kW) for up to 3 hours without significant weld degradation.

In the past two years, with funding support from the UK Innovation UK, teams from CVE and Cranfield University have jointly established testing systems, conducted in-depth research on various aspects of vacuum laser technology, and experimented with various concepts and solutions. The experimental data of these systems were used to develop an optical protection system that can operate at extremely low levels of particle generation.

Currently, CVE is working on manufacturing vacuum laser welding machines using this technology. The company stated that its optical protection system ensures the cleanliness of welded components comparable to electron beam welding. This breakthrough technological advancement will provide global engineers with more welding options and inject new vitality into innovation and development in the industrial manufacturing field.

Source: OFweek Laser Network