Are laser soldering machines and laser welding machines the same equipment? Why are their names so similar? Can they be used interchangeably? Definitely not! Laser soldering machines and laser welding machines are only similar in name, but they are actually two completely separate devices in terms of their working principles, applicable materials, and industries of application.
A laser soldering machine is a specialized laser device used for soldering tin materials, while a laser welding machine is a more versatile laser device. With the development of electronic components becoming smaller, thinner, shorter, and more differentiated, traditional techniques are increasingly unable to meet the demands of ultra-miniaturized electronic substrates and the soldering of multi-layered point components. Laser soldering, with its technological advantages such as non-contact soldering, absence of electrostatic discharge, and real-time quality control, has gradually become a new technology to compensate for the shortcomings of traditional soldering techniques and has been widely applied in the industry. As market demands grow, laser soldering technology also brings more development opportunities to the electronics industry.
Principle
Laser welding is a precise welding method that utilizes a high-energy density laser beam as a heat source. Surface heat is diffused to the interior through thermal conduction. By controlling parameters such as laser pulse width, energy, peak power, and repetition rate, the workpiece is melted to form a specific weld pool.
Laser soldering, on the other hand, is a method within laser processing. It uses laser as the heat source to radiatively heat the lead (or the connection pad of lead-free devices). Laser soldering employs specialized soldering materials such as laser solder paste, solder wire, or preformed solder preforms to transfer heat to the substrate. When the temperature reaches the melting point of the solder material, the solder melts, wets the substrate and lead, forming a solder joint.
While laser soldering and other laser processing methods use laser beams as heat sources, they have differences in their processes.
Laser Types
Laser soldering machines typically employ semiconductor lasers that emit continuous light with wavelengths ranging from 808 to 980 nm. Laser welding machines, on the other hand, generally use solid-state lasers or fiber lasers that emit pulsed or continuous light with wavelengths ranging from 1064 to 1080 nm.
Application Fields
- Laser soldering machines are applicable to a wide range of materials and industries. They can be used for SMT through-hole components, soldering temperature-sensitive elements, difficult-to-solder components, microspeakers/motors, various PCBs for SMT reflow soldering, and soldering of mobile phone components. The main application field is precision processing in the electronics industry, such as PCB spot welding, soldering, soldering of electronic connectors and thermally sensitive components. It is also suitable for the microelectronics field, such as welding extremely fine coaxial lines and terminals, USB cable assemblies, and soldering flexible circuit boards (FPC) or rigid PCBs. Additionally, it can be used for high-precision LCD, TFT soldering, and high-frequency transmission lines.
- Laser welding machines are suitable for various welding materials, including mold steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, copper and copper alloys, aluminum and aluminum alloys, as well as plastics. Its wide range of applications includes battery manufacturing, solar energy industry, mobile communication, fiber optic communication devices, mold manufacturing, electronic appliances, IC integrated circuits, instrumentation, gold and silver jewelry, precision components, aerospace components, automotive industry, and motor industry, capable of handling larger-sized welding tasks. Laser welding machines play a significant role in these fields.
Equipment Structure and Functions
- Laser Soldering Machine
The laser soldering machine typically features a compact structural design, consisting of a soldering head and a soldering parameter control system. The soldering head is specifically designed for soldering solder materials, while the soldering parameter control system is used to adjust parameters such as laser beam power, focal length, and scanning speed. Additionally, the laser soldering machine is equipped with a welding area protection function to ensure the safety and stability of the soldering process.
- Laser Welding Machine
The structure of a laser welding machine is relatively complex and includes multiple key components. These components include a laser source for generating the laser beam, a beam transmission system for guiding the laser beam to the welding head, the welding head itself for focusing the laser beam and performing the welding, a welding platform that provides the welding workspace, and a control system for managing the welding process. Laser welding machines offer more functionalities and adjustment options, such as welding energy, focal size, welding speed, pulse mode, etc., to accommodate different materials and welding requirements.
In general, a laser soldering machine is a specific type of laser welding machine that is designed specifically for soldering solder materials, making it suitable for high-precision soldering applications in the electronics industry. On the other hand, laser welding machines are more versatile and suitable for a wide range of welding requirements with various materials. They find extensive applications in industries such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, electronics manufacturing, and more. Laser welding machines have a broad range of applications, covering industries such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, electronics manufacturing, and more.
