The mechanical hardware industry often faces several challenges, including low efficiency in batch rust removal for small and medium-sized hardware parts such as bolts and nuts, difficulty in cleaning heavy oxidation layers on large mechanical components like machine tool beds and gearbox housings, and the risk of corrosion and dimensional accuracy loss caused by traditional acid pickling processes. To address these issues, PES LASER offers customized laser rust removal solutions for different application scenarios. For batch processing of small and medium-sized components, PES LASER provides automated conveyor-type laser cleaning workstations equipped with automatic loading and unloading systems. A single system can process 500–800 workpieces per hour, with rust removal depth precisely controlled within 5–50 μm. The system effectively removes rust, oil contamination, and oxide layers while forming a passive protective layer on the surface after cleaning, improving corrosion resistance by approximately 30%. For large mechanical components and diverse on-site applications, PES LASER has developed portable suitcase-style laser cleaning machines. These lightweight and mobile systems allow operators to manually clean complex areas such as weld seams and grooves. With laser power options ranging from 50W to 6000W, the equipment is suitable for various materials including carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum alloys. The cleaned surface remains damage-free, with dimensional accuracy controlled within ±0.02 mm, enabling direct assembly without additional post-processing. This helps enterprises reduce component scrap rates by 15%–20% and significantly lower overall production costs.

Laser cleaning machines have gained widespread acceptance and application across various industries. Their applications range from rust removal and paint removal to surface treatment. Consequently, handheld laser cleaning machines are extremely popular. As our world evolves, the demand for efficient and effective cleaning is also growing. To address this challenge, demand for robotic laser cleaning machines is also increasing. They are significantly contributing to the evolution of industrial cleaning methods. Manufacturers are continuously improving their design and efficiency to meet customer needs. They can be used for a variety of industrial cleaning applications. Overview of Collaborative Robots for Industrial Applications Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are one of the latest technologies in the industrial sector. Cobots can complete tasks faster and more efficiently. Because they are fully controllable, you can use these devices for a variety of tasks. In addition to laser cleaning, they can also be used for welding, assembly, and inspection. These robots are easy to program and can switch between different tasks with the same precision. Furthermore, collaborative robots are smaller and safer than traditional technologies. Most automated manufacturing utilizes collaborative robots to achieve faster and more accurate work. They are particularly popular in the electronics, automotive, medical, and metal industries. This technology can improve work speed and quality. It also reduces stress, making work easier and safer. You can also reduce labor costs, save time, and, of course, increase overall productivity. How to Use Collaborative Robots in Smart Cleaning Systems There are several steps to using a collaborative robot pulse laser cleaner. These steps are crucial for achieving optimal cleaning results. We'll explain them in the following sections. Please read and apply them carefully for optimal cleaning results. Stable Setup and Installation Guide First, position the robot base at the selected work location. Next, use a machining tool to precisely mount the laser cleaning head to the robot flange. Set the load and adjust the center of gravity. Create a suitable layout and route cables, fiber optics, or cooling tubing between the laser source and the cleaning head. Finally, connect the I/O cables for communication and control. Smart Path Planning and Laser Parameters To create smart path planning, use the robot's teach pendant. Set the distance of the cleaning head based on the focusing lens. Ensure the laser maintains the appropriate distance from the surface. Most importantly, set the power, pulse width, frequency, and scan pattern based on your cleaning target. This will help you remove rust, paint, oil, or various types of dirt. Starting and Stopping with DO Signals The cleaning process is executed using a digital output (DO) signal. Setting the DO signal high starts cleaning at the starting point. Setting it low, on the other...

In industrial production, cleaning is a crucial process. Traditional cleaning methods, such as mechanical and chemical cleaning, can meet production needs to some extent, but they often suffer from low flexibility and environmental pollution. With the advancement of technology, laser cleaning has emerged. Featuring high efficiency, eco-friendliness, and non-contact operation, it has gradually become a rising star in the cleaning field. Among them, single-mode and multi-mode fiber pulsed lasers are the two most commonly used types. So, what are the differences between them? What are their respective advantages and disadvantages? And in which application scenarios are they suitable? This article will provide the answers. What are single-mode and multi-mode? The mode of a laser generally refers to the energy distribution state in the plane perpendicular to the propagation direction, which can be single-mode or multi-mode. Single-mode means that the laser only generates one mode during operation. Its energy intensity decreases gradually from the center to the edge, and the distribution follows a Gaussian curve, with the beam called a fundamental Gaussian beam. A single-mode laser beam is characterized by high beam quality, small beam diameter, small divergence angle, and energy distribution close to an ideal Gaussian curve. In addition, single-mode lasers have excellent focusing properties, producing small focal spots and stable mode output, making them suitable for strong removal applications such as rust cleaning. A multi-mode laser beam, on the other hand, is composed of a combination of multiple modes, resulting in a more uniform energy distribution. The more modes there are, the more uniform the distribution becomes. This type of beam is often referred to as a flat-top beam. Compared with single-mode, multi-mode lasers have lower beam quality and larger divergence angles, requiring larger aperture optical systems, and their focal spots are bigger. However, multi-mode lasers can more easily achieve high single-pulse energy, high peak power, and high average power outputs. With uniform energy distribution, they are advantageous for applications that demand high efficiency and minimal damage, such as mold cleaning. Advantages and disadvantages of single-mode and multi-mode laser cleaning Due to their good beam quality, small focal spots, and high energy density, single-mode lasers are suitable for removing strongly attached contaminants such as copper rust, as well as cleaning thin or precision parts that are sensitive to heat input. However, because the energy of single-mode lasers is too concentrated, they may cause some damage to the base material during cleaning. For applications such as mold cleaning, where the substrate must not be damaged, multi-mode lasers are the only choice. Multi-mode beams have uniform energy distribution and high peak power. By ensuring the peak power density is higher than the removal threshold of the contaminants but...

Single pendulum and double pendulum welding are widely used techniques in laser welding. Both are advanced forms of oscillation welding and are suitable for a variety of applications. They operate based on different principles. In single pendulum welding, the laser beam oscillates in one direction, while in double pendulum welding, the beam oscillates simultaneously in both horizontal and vertical directions. The pendulum system is crucial in laser welding. It refers to the mechanism that controls the movement of the laser beam, creating a specific oscillation path. This helps distribute heat more evenly across the joint, improves weld quality, and reduces defects. Single pendulum systems move along one axis, while double pendulum systems enable two-axis oscillation, providing greater efficiency and precision. Single pendulum welding involves a welding head that oscillates back and forth during the process, similar to a simple pendulum. This motion distributes heat evenly and strengthens the joint. It is commonly used for small tasks and can weld in confined spaces. The technology is particularly suitable for thin materials, offering stable welds and fewer defects. Double pendulum welding operates with beam oscillation in both directions. The laser beam moves left and right while also moving up and down, similar to two pendulums working together. This enables the beam to create a variety of oscillation patterns, such as triangles, circles, or figure eights. These shapes improve flexibility, heat dissipation, and overall weld quality, making the process highly effective for complex designs and thicker materials. Structurally, single pendulum welding is best suited for light-duty work, narrow joints, and thin flat surfaces. It produces smooth welds with good stability but is limited in handling thicker sections. Double pendulum welding, on the other hand, provides greater control and adaptability. It handles curves, thicker joints, and complex geometries with higher precision and deeper penetration. Maintenance requirements also differ. Single pendulum systems are simpler to operate, with fewer moving parts and lower maintenance needs. Double pendulum systems are more complex and require additional setup and adjustment, but once mastered, they offer significant long-term benefits. In terms of efficiency, single pendulum welding is widely used for straightforward applications in automotive, construction, and general manufacturing. Double pendulum welding is preferred where higher efficiency and more demanding tasks are required, including aerospace and advanced automotive applications. Cost is another factor. Single pendulum machines are more affordable due to their simpler design and lower maintenance requirements, making them popular for basic projects and smaller budgets. Double pendulum machines are more expensive because of their advanced system and higher maintenance needs, but they provide long-term value for high-volume and precision applica...

Laser welding is a key technology in modern manufacturing, and weld quality is influenced by a variety of factors, among which welding position is a critical variable. Different welding positions result in significant differences in molten pool flow, heat conduction, and solidification behavior, which in turn affect weld formation, porosity defects, and mechanical properties. Based on the welding position, common types include flat welding, horizontal welding, vertical-up welding, and vertical-down welding. Figure 1 illustrates different welding positions. Impact of Welding Position on Weld Quality: Welding positions affect the stress distribution during welding, leading to differences in weld morphology. In flat welding, the molten pool exhibits good symmetry, and the weld is uniformly shaped and aesthetically pleasing. Due to evenly distributed gravitational force, penetration remains stable, resulting in optimal mechanical properties and welding stability. In horizontal welding, gravity causes a slight displacement of the molten pool, which affects stability compared to flat welding. In vertical-up welding, the welding direction is opposite to gravity, causing the molten metal behind the keyhole to move downward. Excessive heat input may cause burn-through, and molten pool fluctuation is greater, leading to lower stability. In vertical-down welding, the molten metal also moves downward due to gravity, but in this case, gravity aligns with the pool's movement direction, allowing smoother flow and better welding stability. Figure 2 shows X-ray images of welds in different positions. Porosity is lower in flat and vertical-up welding, while higher in horizontal and vertical-down welding. Figure 3 illustrates the movement of gas porosity under different welding positions. In flat welding, bubbles formed in the molten pool float upward under buoyancy and melt flow, and most escape before solidification, resulting in low porosity. In horizontal welding, the molten pool surface contacts unmelted base metal, hindering bubble escape, leading to higher porosity. In vertical-up welding, bubbles respond to buoyancy and rise through the molten pool. Some gas escapes through the keyhole and pool before solidification, resulting in relatively low porosity. In vertical-down welding, the upper edge of the molten pool is restricted by solidified metal rather than a free space, making it difficult for gas to escape. As a result, porosity is relatively high. Figure 4 compares the tensile properties of welds in different positions. Clear differences are observed: flat and vertical-up welds show significantly higher tensile strength than horizontal and vertical-down welds. Flat welds also exhibit the highest elongation, while horizontal welds have the lowest. Figure 5 presents the fracture morphology of tensile specimens. No pores were observed on the fracture surfaces of flat and vertical-up welds, while numerous pores appeared in the horizontal and vertical-down s...

The sensors of welding robots are divided into internal sensors and external sensors. The internal sensors can monitor the operation of the robot body. When encountering abnormal conditions, they will promptly feedback to the control system and stop the work in an emergency to protect the robot body from damage. The external sensors will monitor the welding quality problems. If welding defects occur, the manual handheld teaching pendant will display a warning signal, and the operator will take corrective measures. Common sensors for welding robots: 1. Visual sensors: Visual sensors are equivalent to the eyes of welding robots. Visual sensors are divided into two-dimensional and three-dimensional. Two-dimensional visual sensors can detect the movement state of parts and components, and the robot adjusts its movement posture according to the movement state of parts and components; three-dimensional visual sensors have laser scanners at different angles to detect objects and create three-dimensional images, and analyze better movements. 2. Mechanical sensors: Mechanical sensors mainly sense the strength of the end effector. Mechanical sensors exist between the end effector and the fixture. When the end sensor is assembled and welded, the mechanical sensor performs certain force monitoring to prevent excessive force and impose certain restrictions. 3. Weld seam tracking sensor: The welding robot has the function of automatic weld seam tracking. It automatically detects and adjusts the position of the welding gun during the welding process, so that the welding gun can control the position of the weld seam, improve the welding accuracy, and effectively stabilize the welding quality.

Weld seam recognition and tracking technology is an important direction for the future development of welding robots, and plays a key role in improving the automation and intelligence level of welding robots. This paper systematically explains the relevant technical characteristics, domestic and foreign development status and future development trends from the aspects of robot sensing technology, weld seam recognition and feature extraction technology, and weld seam tracking control technology. Real-time recognition and feature extraction technology of weld seams is the core of weld seam recognition and tracking control system, and effective noise processing is the key to improving recognition and extraction accuracy. Active sensing based on laser vision, advanced weld seam feature extraction algorithm, image denoising technology and stable and reliable tracking control system are important guarantees for realizing efficient and stable operation of weld seam recognition and tracking system. The ability to recognize multiple types of weld seams and have good adaptability and anti-interference ability are important foundations for promoting the widespread application of weld seam recognition and tracking technology; multi-weld seam recognition technology and multi-level feature extraction intelligent learning algorithm are the key directions for future development. 1. Introduction As an important connection process in the field of modern manufacturing, welding is widely used in the processing of multiple varieties and types of materials in various industries. Traditional manual welding has high requirements for operators and low efficiency, which is difficult to meet the efficient and high-quality production needs of modern industry. With the development of semi-automatic welding technology, the level of welding automation has improved, but it still relies on a lot of manual intervention and is difficult to adapt to the challenges of diversified and complex welding products. The emergence of welding robots has greatly improved welding efficiency and flexibility, reduced production costs, and promoted the rapid development of the welding field. When the weld form is simple and the workpiece position is fixed, the traditional robot teaching programming method can still meet the needs. However, in the face of complex and changeable weld trajectories, ordinary teaching methods require a lot of manual teaching, which is difficult to meet the needs of small-batch and diversified welding production, limiting the further popularization of robot welding technology. In recent years, the emergence of weld recognition and tracking technology has significantly promoted the development of robot welding. This technology can actively identify different weld characteristics, realize robot autonomous teaching welding, greatly improve the stability and efficiency of welding, and promote the widespread application and development of robot welding technology. Because w...

Air-Cooled Laser Welding Machine Advantages: 1.High Portability: Simple structure without complex water-cooling systems, pipelines, or water tanks. It is compact, lightweight, and easy to move and carry, making it ideal for applications that require frequent relocation or outdoor operations. For example, in small workshops or temporary construction sites, air-cooled laser welding machines can be easily transported and used. 2.Ease of Operation: Ready to use upon startup, without the need to wait for water temperature to reach a set point like in water-cooled systems. This saves preparation time and increases work efficiency. Requires less technical knowledge to operate. After basic training, users can start using the machine, which reduces training costs. 3.Low Maintenance Cost: With a simple structure and no water-cooling components, it avoids issues like coolant leakage, clogged water pipes, or water pump failures, minimizing maintenance workload and cost. No need to regularly change coolant or treat water quality, which also saves on maintenance materials. 4.Strong Environmental Adaptability: In cold or low-temperature environments, it’s not affected by coolant freezing, so it can still operate normally. It has a wider range of applications. Less demanding regarding ambient temperature and humidity compared to water-cooled systems, which require specific conditions to ensure effective cooling. 5.Lower Energy Consumption: The main power consumption comes from fans. Compared to the water pumps and refrigeration components in water-cooled systems, energy consumption is lower, resulting in long-term electricity savings. 6.Low Noise: It avoids the noise from water pumps and water flow found in water-cooled systems, resulting in a quieter work environment that benefits operator health and comfort. Disadvantages: 1.Limited Heat Dissipation: Air cooling relies on airflow from fans to remove heat, which is less efficient. In high-power or long-duration operations, cooling may be inadequate. Prolonged high-load operation can cause the laser source to overheat, affecting weld quality and machine lifespan. 2.Power Limitations: Due to limited cooling capacity, air-cooled machines usually have lower power, making them less suitable for high-power applications or welding thick materials. Most air-cooled laser welders on the market fall within a certain power range, which may not meet demands for large-scale or specialized welding tasks. 3.Lower Welding Speed and Depth: The limited power results in reduced welding speed and penetration depth compared to water-cooled machines. For workpieces requiring higher welding speed and depth, the results may be less satisfactory. Water-Cooled Laser Welding Machine Advantages: 1.Superior Cooling Performance: Water circulation effectively absorbs and removes heat, providing efficient cooling and maintaining stable temperatures even during high-power or long-duration operation. It ensures consistent welding quality, even i...