Laser welding can be used for a wide variety of applications in the manufacturing of cooling solutions. Aluminium is often used due to its high thermal conductivity, but stainless steel cooling solutions are also popular due to their high resistance to corrosion. Depending on the application, scanner optics are used for large quantities, while fixed optics are more common for smaller quantities.
Due to their very long weld seams and the fact that welds must be 100% tight, manufacturers pay close attention to the quality of weld seams. Online monitoring systems and leak tests, for instance, are performed for quality assurance. The requirements for the weld seams are clearly defined during proper process development work. In this context, the flexibility of lasers enables even small quantities to be produced economically. Depending on the quantity and specifications, laser-cut components can also be used.
Aluminium cooling solutions can be found in many e-mobility projects – for example to ensure the ideal operating temperature for batteries. But there are also various possible applications for laser-welded cooling systems in general mechanical engineering.