F064: The Laser Advantage: Redefining The Future of Structural and Heavy Section Laser Processing

This presentation examines 3D laser cutting of beams and laser-arc hybrid welding of thick plates up to 25mm. For cutting, we address thermal deformation and edge quality to meet AISC/AWS tolerances, presenting mitigation strategies for dross and back-wall damage on varied steel grades validated through surface roughness and HAZ hardness testing. For hybrid welding, we investigate arc-laser interaction, gap tolerance, and single-pass full penetration achieving double-sided bead formation without back-gouging. Metallographic analysis shows refined grain structure versus SAW/GMAW; ultrasonic and radiographic results correlate with AWS criteria. Attendees will gain validated parameter envelopes and quality benchmarks for regulatory compliance, enabling confident adoption of both technologies.

Lasers dominate sheet metal and plate processing applications. Recently tube lasers have delivered advantages to tube and small-beam production. But tube lasers are expensive and take up lots of real estate.
After several years of development, a new compact and affordable CNC Laser Beam Processing Line has been released that cuts, copes and drills all beam sizes in half the space, and for less than half the price of any other system.
This new technology will transform the structural steel industry
This new design combines creative compact design with high powered lasers to process beams up to 48" with flange thicknesses up to 1-1/2". This range of beam sizes accounts for more than 95% of what a fabricator processes each year.
Just one operator now cuts, copes and processes the beam at high speeds, dramatically cutting costs, increasing operating margins.
This makes it very attractive for even the smallest fabricators.