Why Is Laser Welding Faster Than MIG or TIG?

The machine is doing more of the work that the welder normally has to control by hand.
A good MIG or TIG welder is constantly managing travel speed, torch movement, heat, filler metal, and the weld puddle. With handheld laser welding, more of that process is controlled by the equipment itself.

The Machine Does the Weave for You

This is one of the biggest differences for a welder.

Instead of manually whipping, weaving, or stitching the torch, the THEO welding head creates a controlled wobble weave with the laser beam.

The operator guides the welding head down the joint while the machine performs that repetitive movement.

Think of it as the equipment doing the stitching for you.

You still have to maintain proper position and stay in the weld joint, but you are no longer relying completely on the operator's hand movement to create the same weld pattern over and over again.

That allows the operator to move faster while maintaining a much more repeatable weld.

The Wire Feeder Helps Control Travel Speed

With traditional welding, travel speed is primarily controlled by the welder's hand.

With THEO, the wire feeder speed becomes another tool for controlling the welding process and operator travel speed.

Once the application is dialed in, the wire feed rate gives the operator a consistent pace to follow down the weld joint.

Rather than one welder running the joint fast, another running it slow, and another stopping and starting, the equipment helps establish a repeatable production speed.

That becomes especially important when you're trying to turn welding into a consistent production process instead of relying on the individual technique of each welder.

The Heat Is Concentrated Where You Need It

MIG and TIG create an arc that puts heat into the weld joint and the surrounding material. The welder has to stay in the joint long enough to create and maintain the puddle, achieve penetration, and add filler when required.

A laser concentrates its energy into a much smaller area.

That concentrated energy allows the laser to achieve penetration quickly without putting as much heat into the surrounding material. Because you are not waiting on a large puddle to form and move, the operator can travel down the joint much faster.

Less unnecessary heat also means less distortion and less time dealing with the problems that excessive heat can create downstream.

Wobble Stop Function

Specific to the THEO welding system is the wobble stop function.

During the wobble pattern, the laser concentrates additional energy at the center of the weld joint. That center-focused energy helps drive penetration where it matters most instead of simply spreading heat across the surface of the material.

Process Control

MIG and TIG are heavily dependent on the person holding the torch.

The welder controls the movement, travel speed, filler addition, and consistency of the weld.

With handheld laser welding, those responsibilities begin shifting toward the equipment.

The operator guides & sets the process. The machine controls more of the process.

That is why laser welding can be substantially faster than traditional welding—not because the operator is simply moving their hand faster, but because the equipment is controlling the energy, wobble weave, penetration characteristics, and wire feed in a repeatable way.

And once those parameters are dialed in, you can run that same process again and again.

Want to see if Laser Welder is a fit for your business?

PEBCOR Laser Solutions LLC dba PLS

Discover the efficiency of laser welding today and unlock its potential to revolutionize your manufacturing processes. With its precision and speed, laser welding offers unparalleled advantages that can enhance your productivity and reduce costs.

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