Welding with LightWELD XR: Handheld Laser Welding And Cleaning

[@ypaulbrown]

sure would love to get ahold on e of those sweet machines.......thanks Chris and Dan for all the great information.....Paul

[@44Eflores]

This is perfect for very thin Titanium, very excited to get this in for our shop!

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

Hi Fastflores - be sure to share the results once you have it set up in your shop!

[@MrJuice315]

what "hobbiest" is out there spending $33k on a welder? Yes, these are awesome but this isnt really obtainable for the average welder.

[@dangerous8333]

*Yet.

[@bradz2451]

But it will be

[@rossbutterworth3408]

Not a nice one from Massachusetts, but the there will be (or maybe already are) Chinese versions for way less.

[@skaterskate97]

That’s what everyone said about 3D Printers

[@SHABBA-OVERLOAD]

it's only $7k

[@mikewasniewski4048]

Every laser video says you can weld a sheet metal box,but no one shows it.I mean three pieces coming together to form a corner of a box. Does that titanium pipe need back gassing? What did the back of that 1/4" stainless look like? We need to know!

[@chrisewing3272]

I’ll make sure we pass your box note on to the Lightweld team. Yes, the titanium was being purged through the positioner. I’ll see if I can dig up the stainless sample (heck yeah I kept them) and post some pictures in the WELD app. Thanks for watching!

[@phillhuddleston9445]

@@chrisewing3272 Even for a small business this is a lot of money, not a hobbyist tool at all.

[@danl.4743]

@@phillhuddleston9445 How much are these?

[@pieshka4509]

It's very easy to weld a box with it but free hand tacking with it is challenging, my shop for safety reasons I've insisted on as the lead laser welder is to mig tack and grind like we're prepping for the longitudinal seam welder then laser it. Granted we use the tip they don't recommend for that joint but it works and looks like it was done with tig. We tested outside corner joints with polished stainless and the inside corner joint had a similar scorched(?) look to mig penetration

[@phillhuddleston9445]

@@danl.4743 I believe I read they are around $26,000.

[@adammaina1936]

Very impressive. Any chance that you will include cutting ability to make this a three-in-one machine - welding, cutting and cleaning?

[@Weldinginlove]

Everything looks be easy with this machine 🤠

[@chrisewing3272]

The learning curve was way less than with any other process I’ve learned, and the results on these examples was impressive.

[@Weldinginlove]

@@chrisewing3272 need more video with this machine 🔥. .

[@chrisewing3272]

@@Weldinginlove well then do I have some great news for you… 😎

[@pieshka4509]

You just have to be careful with the beam reflecting back, I've got burn marks on a pair of gloves from tacking and welding inside corners on sheet aluminum with it, and to prove a point to coworkers that keep wanting to hold metal with their hands infront of the gun, I burned a hole in leather mig gloves (no hand inside) with a 1-2 second trigger press

[@Shiro128b]

The future is now!

[@jamesballock1768]

I would like to see the x- ray and brinell test results from the samples that were welded.

[@GRich120]

Very cool. Looks like a great option for small businesses.

[@andreym325]

Small business can’t afford il lols

[@pieshka4509]

A mig machine combined with the laser has made doing 58" corner joints a lot faster than using the longitudinal seam welding machine we've had

[@johnh8615]

I wonder if this will be a better root run welding process and then to finish by fill runs to complete the job?

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

Hello John - LightWELD XR has the power to create full-penetration welds on material up to 1/4” thick in a single pass without need for a bevel. You could use a multi-pass process to weld thicker joints.

[@CaptDavesSportfishing]

can't wait to see aluminum boat building this way.

[@toolbox-gua]

Pretty cool stuff.

[@jonathanrees3765]

Was this just fusion welding, or was there a wire feed as well?

[@pieshka4509]

It has a wire feeding ability, it uses a tig wire feeder (the black box next to the unit) and a specific contact tip. Having used it it's weird because the "wire pushes the gun" so your wire speed is your weld speed. All welds in the video are fusion

[@davemowers7827]

What about restarts? You gotta feather them out with a cut off wheel on anything being x rayed?

[@Smallathe]

Fascinating!!!

Do you chamfer the edges of 6mm panels?

[@12345678971926]

I’ll be looking forward to this become smaller more compact and a whole lot cheaper for the average guy like me

[@MrHennrocks]

Got the xc and was told it would be able to weld copper. Can you tell me the settings used so I can add it to my machine.

[@connordericks6604]

Where can I get that bench torch holder that was used in the video?

[@basic375]

How do you set the laser

[@bruced1429]

Can you weld a gap , and if so what reasonable gap can be welded?

[@pieshka4509]

A gap without a wire, no. At least with my experience with sheet metal, even the smallest gap will open up. With the wire feeder I've asked coworkers to mig tack a gap closed just in case but it probably depends on the gap and wire thickness

[@niceguydmm]

Got mine direct from China for 3800 to my door. Love it.. No need to pay high price for one for 1500w.

[@jamalakraa3753]

I saw some Chinese devices that can weld + clean + cut. Is that possible with this IPG Lightwled XR device?? And how can we set it if it is possible!!

[@chrisewing3272]

Weld and clean only are the intentions of this particular unit. Thanks for watching!

[@JazAero]

I want to know what is the longevity and durability of this machine? Are there consumables? what is that lasers lifespan? If you are going to spend 32K do you need to to spend a major percentage of that maintaining that machine each year ?. and what are the costs of electricity in running such a machine? Then there is the question of cut and etch. great infomercial about the machine, but all the welds you showed were filmed from a distance, where were the close-up shots ? The "arc shots" ? All the weld shots were taken from a distance where you could not really see what was going on at the weld pool level. what about mill scale? Or rust? and I believe the question is already come up about the different forms of aluminum 6061 7075 etc. what about aircraft sheet aluminum? Or 4130 tube steel would this be good for welding something like that?

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

Great questions! The only consumables are a protective window inside the welding head and the copper welding nozzles. Both should be replaced as needed. LightWELD is designed for thousands of hours of use in an industrial environment. Other than the protective window, maintenance is similar to traditional welding equipment. As for electricity use, LightWELD runs on 220 volt, single-phase power. It draws 4,300 watts maximum. Several people have asked about weld test results. We've previously had a variety of tests (etching, tensile, bend) run by a third-party metallurgical lab and we will be putting the results online soon. We will post a link here once they are up.

[@dantegonzalezeguialis8678]

What about fillet size? As I could see 1/4” plates but still butt joint unless I’m wrong

[@pieshka4509]

For anyone wondering, yes you need that helmet with the plate on it when using the machine. We've tested with an old helmet infront of the beam reflection zone and the plastic will show signs of being heated if not melting. It's irritating and heavier making it fall down when you want it up, but it's for safety.

[@pieshka4509]

@tmtmrm i saw it in a catalog thing but forgot when it was coming out, good to know because the one out already is annoying

[@danielkrall6501]

How does it do on 6xxx aluminum? Most of the aluminum that we fabricate with is 6061 or 6063 tubing, or 6xxx tubing to 5xxx or 6xxx plate.

[@aldobruno712]

how is the curve at 6:01 held together to the tube before welding? sorry, dumb question, I watch out of pure interest is it tap welded? before? welded with what technology? again laser?

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

Hi Aldo - Before cleaning and welding the titanium pipe Chris put in a few tack welds with the LightWELD. This was edited out for the sake of time, but you can see a similar process on a different piece at 3:02.

[@Precivilization]

Impressive, in 25 years it will casually be sold in Home Depot. I will grab one then if I'm still around. Hey Chris, If I have 25 feet of welding leads, do I need to uncoil them every time I need to weld? Just a hobbiest in my garage here.

[@chrisewing3272]

It’s still pretty new, but technology has a way of shrinking and becoming more affordable over time, so while I doubt it’s coming to your local Home Depot any time soon, I would not at all be surprised to see them popping up at local weld supply stores within that time frame. As far as your leads go, you don’t “have” to uncoil them; but coiling wire and passing electricity through it can have some unwanted effects on your welds, so I generally recommend it. Maybe even cutting them shorter and then attaching a splice, like a male and female tweco connector so that you can use them shorter, or attach the extra length when needed. Thanks for watching!

[@maxcarter3413]

Nice but not enough info to buy one.

[@Goldwing1500rider]

When I get to it…. Ohhhhh… how you work this thing???? Lol… incredible!!

[@ducksauce2746]

I need one now 😂

[@willgallatin2802]

I would not call $30K a good fit for a hobby shop. It is quite impressive, and I may end up with one for work, but not for the home shop.

[@Zorbawon]

I tend to agree with you but, I was thinking of a friend of mine who paid $76K for a cello as a hobbyist and now playing in an orchestra. I will point that out to my wife and see if she would let me buy the welder..........................not holding my breath.

[@LivingTheDream77]

You can get chinese versions for half that price

[@bobreichel]

I wouldn't call 30,000 a good fit for any shop.

[@spdcrzy]

@@bobreichel 4x your output, less retries, AND better weld consistency? $30,000 will pay for itself within a year.

[@jaybestcole]

"This is affordable for a hobbyist" Its a $27,000 dollar machine how out of touch with your audience are you?

[@captainheat2314]

If you can spend 27K on a welder you are a professional with a shop or a millionaire and the like

[@chrisewing3272]

I didn’t say it wasn’t expensive; but if you want something bad enough, you budget and make it work. When I say “hobbyist who wants to make some art” perhaps I could have specified “and sell it to make money.” People have all kinds of equipment that costs considerably more, and they understand it to be part of their own plan.

[@GRich120]

I know a couple guys that have plasma machines in their garage. Maybe Chris is a bit more in touch with the audience than some think. 😉

[@Welddotcom]

Our audience is global and quite diverse. We provide information and resources for all. Thanks

[@maisummarceneiroumdemuitos8037]

A lot of guys prefers to expend in their shop instead of a fancy car.

[@NSW]

Fantastic really cool. Doesn't the titanium need a better gas cover? I mean with tig it's quite important but laser might not need that. Anyway really cool to se a manual laser.

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Cover gas and pre-weld preparation are important when welding Titanium. In this video, oxides and hydrocarbons were removed using cleaning mode on the LightWELD XR. Argon gas was used to shield both the weld crown and root. Lastly, the heat affected zone was removed using cleaning mode again.

[@erica8664]

Why are they not testing how strong welds are???

[@andypatterson7426]

What about auto body repair and patch panels

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

Hi Andy - Auto body repairs are possible. Care must be taken to ensure good fit-up of the patch on the body panel.

[@ra8620]

How good Root is

[@danl.4743]

Lots of unanswered questions here. Why, if this produces heat after all, do you need "to add metals" to the ability of this welder? Can it weld brass? If not, then why not? How do the controls of this welder work?

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

Hello Dan - thanks for the questions. LightWELD XR comes loaded with presets to fusion weld Stainless, Mild, and Galvanized Steel, as well as Aluminum and Nickel Alloys, Titanium, and Copper. Wire can be used to increased size of fillet welds and overcome challenges with joint fit-up. Although LightWELD XR does not come loaded with presets for welding brass, many users have been successful using the copper presets on brass.

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

And as for the controls, LightWELD XR comes loaded with 28 presets to cover tack welding, fusion and filler welding, and laser cleaning. Simply use the provided mode chart to find the material and thickness you’d like to weld, then start welding. Once you become proficient with LightWELD, you can create fully customized weld schedules using the LightWELD web interface.

[@benc8386]

The claim that "if you tigged that 1/4" plate the whole thing would be a heat affected zone" is false. It wouldn't be much bigger. I would also like to see a break test. I'm going to need some convincing that a fusion weld on material that thick is strong enough.

[@smithjohn3080]

Agreed especially if a heat sink fixture were used

[@rscrod]

I would like to see you weld a nut on a snapped off manifold bolt

[@geonerd]

Dude, call me cynical, but I NEED to see a proper cut-and-etch on that 1/4" stainless.

[@mattpratt7641]

I've received some. They have plenty of Groove weld etches. I had to do my own fillet weld etches though, they still looked great - passed fillet breaks easy too. Very small fillet welds possible - smaller than .07 leg. Seems to be legit for sure.

[@คนต่างเมือง]

👍👍👍

[@airfried4908]

I'm here doing research, comparing products, and trying to figure out if I should learn the new techniques before I'm left behind... Then I remember I have never welded anything before and I got here by watching car fails..

[@cst9374]

🤣

[@opieshomeshop]

Not so sure I'm sold on this... Hold on, let me check with my accountant... Ok, he just got back with me... Yes, I am indeed NOT sold on this....

[@ypaulbrown]

why can't you weld 6000 series Aluminum????

[@IPGPhotonicsOxford]

6000 series Aluminum alloys can be tricky to weld because they are prone to cracking. The high power density of LightWELD XR allows user to weld 6000 series Aluminum using fusion techniques or create filler welds with ER5356 wire.

[@ypaulbrown]

@@IPGPhotonicsOxford Thanks, yes, 6000 series does not like autogenous welds, I do not think I have ever been able to tig [gtaw] any with out filler material with out it cracking. Appreciate the feed back, Paul

[@andrewg198]

That was sugaring on the 1/4 in stainless not melt thru/full penetration

[@user9_994]

This is going to kill the og welding. This is the future of welding and just anyone is going to be able to do it very easily no need for skill

[@richardcornelius1050]

Not for a very long time . look at that price tag vs a modern multi-Process machine that can be purchased for $750- 2K depending on where you shop . I got mine for that $750.00 figure and for what I do and have already done it works just fine .

[@user9_994]

I feel like in the near future these machines are going to vastly imporve maybe find a way to drop in price and weld about anything. This could easily replace my flux core welding machine at the shop i work at and plus my shop loves fast production

[@pieshka4509]

Not yet, in my shop we use mig and sometimes tig in combination with it. Because it's a class 4 laser, and I've put burn marks on my gloves tacking aluminum together with it, it can be safer to tack things with mig or tig before using it. But everything I've welded with it looks like we tigged it together to the point plasma cut stainless steel has a rainbow along the weld

[@zyeborm]

@@richardcornelius1050 for a welding shop the cost of the employee is much greater than the cost of the welder. If you can get a 30% productivity improvement it'd pay for itself in a year or two in labour savings alone.

[@mohammedtroy4296]

aliens created that Lazer weld process that technology is too advanced special hello to Mikala you are injured and you still working respect my love

[@jamesballock1768]

Theodore Mailman. 1960 Hughes research lab. Not aliens,grow up.

[@engifelix]

Alibba 5k!

[@borgheses]

that was new metal. what about welding old rusty stuff with that?

[@sawbladeheaddesigns2451]

If i had this I so would weld the doors together on ppl who take 2 parking spots !

[@bonitou3214]

Mm. Well. What can it do that a decent tig doesn't?

[@Мистер_ЗМЗ]

Прикольный аппарат. Дорогой наверно.

[@Ocelopilli]

30,000 +

[@willydunn6978]

You are in USA we measure in inches.

[@22_floW]

And for only $32,200.00, this can all be yours! Oh, and monthly financing is available at about $626 per-month. Move over, mortgage...

[@juanalfredocanales8372]

Me gustaría y me contacten

[@bobreichel]

Although it's interesting, at 24 to 28 thousand dollars, it's not cost effective, as well as it has many limits to its welding abilities. I can take a $4000.00 300 amp machine and weld 1/64" all the way up to 2". At this point, it's a "got to have the newest thing on the block thing" or just for bragging rights.

[@LSwaggy]

For the low, low price of 33 G's, ladies and gents. 💀

[@runvs7470]

Not a replacement for tig welding…. Maybe mig. But not tig! Size matters 😂

[@tonyioannoni4951]

True it's pretty expensive,, but it all depends on how you prioritize your stuff, technically my friend came over yesterday and showed me his brand new special GMC Sierra AT4X loaded to the freakin bone, it costed him $120K canadian, tax included, hell I have a 2008 Toyota Tacoma, that I bought 4 years ago for $17K, there would be room for 3 laser welders and a half, but then again, I don't need this machine....yet!...lollllll

[@blackdimondx6049]

Impressive Technology, However...This can put The average Welder, out of business....look at it's easier than Mig.

[@pieshka4509]

Having trained people to use it, it's easier for an average or recently started welder to learn it because they don't have welding habits they need to not do with this machine, but they know what to look for

[@williammessenger9637]

WHAT IS UP??? All the time to prep and you start with "What is up"???? Adios!!!

[@DeepFrydTurd]

why dont you guys just use KUKA robot arms to weld? its automatic and more precise, meanwhile you can go do something else. and just hire an individual to just remotely monitor all of the robots. 1 time payment vs annual salary. i choose one time payment. Humans are prone to mistakes we all know that plus they are fucking emotional and have problems outside of work they are unreliable

[@MAC-ws8fz]

"Whad-zzup" What, you don't look like you live in 'da ghetto'! Speak English.

[@chrisewing3272]

Hi Mac! If you listen closely, or re-watch any of my previous videos, you'll see what I'm actually saying is "What is up?" eliminating the contraction within the more traditional "What's up?" phrase; quintessentially creating an even more grammatically correct sentence than most - and all in English no less! I might ask however, what does one look like who, "live{s} in 'da ghetto," in your opinion sir? Thanks for watching.

[@cjbauer7315]

Last year, I made a purchase of a Light Weld XC machine. Unfortunately, upon unboxing, it was non-functional. After reaching out to their technical support, I did receive some level of responsiveness. Several phone calls later, a technician was dispatched to my facility approximately three weeks later, equipped with a new circuit board. It was disappointing to experience such a delay in repairs for a brand-new welder, especially considering the total investment of $30,000 for my startup. The explanation given was that there may have been a defective batch of circuit boards sent during the initial production phase, indicating a systemic issue. Eventually, the technician replaced the circuit board on-site at my facility, requiring only about 20 minutes. I was relieved to have the machine back in working order. However, my satisfaction was short-lived. After only 25 hours of service, conveniently just one month after the warranty period expired, the same issue recurred. The manufacturer provided me with a repair quote ranging from $2,000 to $4,000, along with a complex set of instructions detailing how to properly package and ship the welder using various tilt and impact sensors (incurring additional costs and logistical challenges). Opting for this route would mean facing another few weeks of lead time. Alternatively, if I chose to have a technician come to my facility for repairs, the costs and turnaround time would be even greater. Fortunately, being part of a massive global corporation, I have the financial means to absorb this setback. However, for a small business relying on this capital investment, the situation would be dire. Consequently, I strongly emphasize the importance of conducting thorough research before making such purchases. I recently discovered that these "welders" are not compatible with TIG welders, a critical piece of information that was not disclosed during the sales process. It would have been helpful if the seller had mentioned this limitation when selling a welder to someone with welding expertise. These circumstances have left me disheartened. As a 20-year welding veteran, I wanted to share my perspective and caution others in similar situations to exercise diligence and consider all relevant factors before making such investments. Thank You

[@AwestrikeFearofGods]

What do you mean by "not compatible with TIG welders"? Also, perhaps there should be a legal requirement to extend warranty periods by the duration of downtime between when you report a problem, and when the manufacturer fixes it.

[@Eline_Meijer]

crap

[@jamesballock1768]

I would like to see the x- ray and brinell test results from the samples that were welded.

[@danielpadilla9594]

Yes! They should’ve showed the “penetration” on the back side. Also I dont think the heat zone on a tig process for 1/4 stainless would have been that much different…

[@raylaino2067]

@@danielpadilla9594 100 percent agreed

[@nathanchadbourne3374]

I have been working and on the light weld xr 2000 machine at work. The welds always have 100% penetrantion 99% of the time. It's a awesome welding process. You just have to set it to the right pre set weld setting and it should give you optimal results.