Welding Torches: Making the Right Choice: Laser Welding Torches, laser Welding Guns they all look the same!
The big differnce is INSIDE!
Gas-cooled or Water-cooled Laser Welding Torches?
A major key question is whether to opt for a gas or water-cooled laser Welding torch!
It’s a bit like buying a motorbike—should you go for the air-cooled single cylinder engine or the water-cooled four-cylinder one? The fact is water-cooled designs are often more durable and certainly boast better handling.
And welding systems are no different: Anyone who has used a welding system with water cooling right up to the tip of the gas nozzle will tell you how smooth the torch control felt and how easy it was to handle. Plus, water-cooled systems last longer and provide more power.
Air-cooled laser welding torches are not very suitable for higher laser power, whereas water-cooled torches continue to perform well at higher lightpower, up to 2kW Continue Wave (CW) laser welding or 6kW maximum pulsed laser welding
Naturally, the advantages of water-cooled over gas-cooled come at a cost, with purchase prices for water-cooled torches coming in 30–50% higher on average. There is also the additional cost of installing the water cooling system itself. As wearing parts, laser welding torches will form part of your ongoing operating costs and therefore price is an important consideration when deciding between gas or water-cooled options.
Control Functions for your laser Welding Torch
Once you’ve decided on your preferred cooling option, the next question to ask is what operating controls you want. Do you need something simple or more multifunctional? What controls does your welding torch need to meet your welding requirements?
The most basic option is a simple on-off switch, or torch trigger. Perhaps you want also to be able to increase or decrease the laser power whilst welding? A simple rocker switch on the top of the torch enables the welder to adjust the laser light power up and down without stopping welding or changing their grip.
Looking for something more advanced than simple power controls?
Then you should opt for a torch with additional controls that link to all the different settings shown on the power source display like standard integrated in out Wobble6-PRO+ Machine. Each individual parameter can be viewed on the torch’s small display and selected or adjusted as necessary. There is also an option set specific parameters on the power source for a particular welding task or “job”. These presets can then be activated on the torch itself.
All the settings you need in your everyday work can be controlled directly on the lasermach laser welding torch without any need to use the controls on the welding system itself. These multifunctional torches are especially advantageous when welding in positions where the power source cannot be positioned right next to the weld site or where longer hosepacks are needed to access hard-to-reach components.