Laser-Collimated Hot-Wire Welding
A specialized hybrid welding process where a filler wire is preheated by electrical resistance before entering the molten pool, with energy input optimized by a focused laser beam. This significantly increases deposition rates while minimizing thermal distortion.
In laser hybrid welding, the wire is heated by the laser beam just before entering the melt pool. This makes it drip off in a controlled manner and melt cleanly into the seam without you having to guide the torch much. If the wire is preheated evenly, the melt pool stays calm and you get fewer spatters and pores. The seam becomes more dense and the transitions cleaner. Make sure the laser hits the wire tip exactly and the feed runs steadily. If the wire is too cold or the focus is off, it starts spattering or the seam becomes irregular. Then it helps to reduce the wire feed and reset the focus.