Laser welding vs energy storage cold welding

What is laser welding & how does it work?

Laser welding enables joining of many materials and material combinations, can weld thick parts, and has no limitation on proximity of weld spots. There are two types of laser that provide solutions for battery applications: pulsed Nd:YAG and fiber. Both of these lasers offer different joining characteristics that can be selected as appropriate.

Can a laser weld a tab to terminal?

Due to a different welding mechanism, laser welding is able to weld both thin and thick tab materials, with a capability of welding copper or aluminum tab material above and beyond 0.04-inch thickness. Avoiding penetration of the can and overheating the battery are important aspects of tab to terminal welding.

Why is laser welding better than mechanical clinching?

Laser welding offers significant advantages over mechanical clinching and adhesive methods based on joint reliability, joining speed, and ease of manufacturing. As laser welding is an extremely efficient joining process, the heat input into the battery is minimized.

What are the different types of laser welding?

There are two types of laser that provide solutions for battery applications: pulsed Nd:YAG and fiber. Both of these lasers offer different joining characteristics that can be selected as appropriate. Laser welding is an excellent method for seam sealing, resulting in high speed, high quality seams in both steel and aluminum.

Can a laser be used for battery module welding?

Laser welding is significantly faster showing the allure of the laser for battery module welding. Cycle time can be reduced even further with the use of a galvo scanning system, where some motion is handled by quick motions in the galvo head, and then indexed after all cells within the welding field are addressed.

What is the difference between micro-Tig and laser welding?

This process became known as micro-TIG, a generally non-contact process that offers excellent copper joining while offering a fairly relaxed process window with respect to part fit-up and positioning tolerances of the electrode to the parts. Laser welding is a newer technology, introduced in the manufacturing marketplace in the mid-1980s.