Application of laser welding technology in stainless steel cup processing
First, the core advantages of laser welding technology in the processing of stainless steel cups
High accuracy and aesthetics
The weld width can be controlled at 0.1~0.5mm to realize seamless welding (especially suitable for the spout and bottom seam of high-end thermos cups).
There is no spatter of welding slag, which reduces the subsequent polishing process and reduces the risk of surface damage.
Small heat affected zone
Traditional argon arc welding is easy to cause stainless steel deformation or discoloration, and the laser welding energy is concentrated, and the thermal deformation is reduced by more than 50%, thus maintaining the shape stability of the cup.
Efficiency improvement
The welding speed can reach 5~10m/min (argon arc welding is only 1~3m/min), which is suitable for production in auto production line.
Material adaptability
Can weld 304/316 stainless steel, titanium alloy and other materials, especially suitable for thin-walled cups (0.3~1.5mm thickness).
Second, the key process parameters and control points
parameter |
Typical range |
Impact statement |
Laser power |
500~2000W |
Too low power can easily lead to incomplete penetration, and too high power may burn through. |
welding speed |
3~8m/min |
Too fast will form virtual welding, too slow will increase heat input. |
Focus position |
0~+2mm（Positive defocus） |
Affect energy density and penetration. |
protective gas |
99.99% Ar/N2 |
To prevent oxidation, argon is better than nitrogen. |
Solutions to common problems:
Blowhole problem: clean the oil stain on the surface before welding and optimize the gas flow (15~20L/min is recommended).
Weld blackening: check the purity of shielding gas and adjust the nozzle angle (30 ~ 45 inclination).
III. Typical application scenarios
Cup longitudinal seam welding
Continuous welding is realized by using fiber laser (wavelength 1070nm) and automatic fixture, and the weld seam needs to pass helium mass spectrometer leak detector test.
Ring welding of spout and cup body
Use robot trajectory programming (such as ABB/FANUC) to ensure the welding consistency of complex surfaces.
Double vacuum cup bottom welding
Pulsed laser welding (peak power 3000W) can avoid thermal failure of vacuum layer caused by continuous welding.
IV. Industry Cases and Equipment Selection
Case reference
Hals (China Cup and Pot Tap): TRUMPF laser welding machine was introduced, and the yield was increased to 99.2%.
Thermos, Japan: YAG laser welding technology is used to weld ultra-thin (0.2mm) stainless steel liner.
Equipment recommendation
Economical type: HANS fiber welding machine made in China (about 500,000 ~ 800,000 yuan).
High-end type: IPG Photonics laser system (integrated visual positioning, accuracy ±0.02mm).
V. Trends of technology development
Composite welding technology
Laser+arc hybrid welding (such as laser -MIG) gives consideration to both speed and penetration, and is suitable for processing thick-walled cups.
Intelligent upgrade
Real-time seam tracking (CCD vision system)+AI defect detection (such as SeamAI software).
Green manufacturing
Lead-free solder and laser technology meet the environmental protection standards of EU REACH.
