MCW Water-Cooled Fiber Laser Chain Making Welding Machine: Clean 22K Gold Chain Welding at 600–700 rpm
Reading time: 6 min | Target keywords: chain making laser welding machine, fiber laser chain weaving welder, MCW laser welding machine, 22K gold chain welding, laser chain soldering machine, Italian chain machine laser retrofit
Solder-powder welding is still the norm on many chain weaving lines: flux powder, discoloration, and a post-weld furnace pass that costs time and can pull 22K gold down to 20K. The MCW water-cooled fiber laser chain making welding machine replaces that process entirely — a 0.15 mm precision laser spot welds the chain link as it is woven at 600–700 rpm, with no powder, no discoloration, and no furnace treatment. This guide covers how the MCW system works, which chain styles and metals it handles, the full specification table, what ships in the standard configuration, and how to evaluate it for your factory.
Why Chain Workshops Are Replacing Solder Powder with Laser Welding
Traditional powder soldering on chain weaving machines leaves three recurring problems: powder contamination around the weld joint, visible discoloration that requires furnace treatment, and purity risk on high-karat gold. Laser welding removes all three at once. The weld is made by a focused fiber laser beam with a 0.15 mm precision spot, so the joint is fused without adding foreign solder material. Keep your 22K gold strictly 22K — no powder, no discoloration, and no post-furnace step required, and the finished link shows a brighter finish straight off the machine.
0.15 mm Ultra-Fine Precision for 600–700 rpm High-Speed Weaving
The MCW laser head is mounted directly onto the weaving machine and synchronized with its cycle. The customized laser delivers stable, flawless joints at production speed, with zero dropped chains reported in typical operation. Key optical characteristics support this:
- Welding spot diameter adjustable from 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm
- High beam quality and uniform energy distribution for consistent welds
- Stable laser output with adjustable spot size for different wire gauges
- Consistent, uniform welds — stabilization is achieved immediately upon startup, with no warm-up time required
Save Around 80% on Maintenance Compared with YAG Lasers
Older YAG lamp-pumped chain welding machines need frequent bulb and lamp changes and carry high downtime and cost. The MCW uses a true water-cooled fiber laser source instead:
- Roughly 1/5 the maintenance cost of a YAG system
- Zero consumables — the fiber laser source is maintenance-free
- Built-in water chiller for 24/7 continuous operation, with DC PWM fan ducts for efficient heat removal
- About 20 kWh per 10-hour shift, roughly 60 kWh less power per day than comparable YAG lines
Combined with the energy saving, typical payback is within 1–2 years. Over 5,000 units have been sold worldwide across Mavenlaser's jewelry equipment line, a useful reference point for long-term reliability.
One Machine Handles Gold, Silver, Copper and Stainless Steel Across 10 Chain Styles
The MCW adapts to a wide range of chain designs and metals, maximizing production flexibility on a single weaving line. Documented chain styles include:
- Ball Chain
- Box Chain
- Curb Chain
- Figaro Chain
- Filled Flat Cable Chain
- Flat Cable Chain
- Gauge Wire
- Rolo Chain
- Rope Chain
- Snake Chain
Supported materials cover gold, silver, copper, and stainless steel, so the same machine can serve fine-jewelry and fashion-jewelry orders without retooling the laser system.
Zero-Hassle Legacy Upgrade for Traditional Italian Chain Machines
Replacing an entire weaving line is rarely necessary. The MCW is compatible with traditional Italian chain machines, and each system includes a dedicated laser head mounting bracket. Retrofitting is straightforward: mount the bracket, fit the laser head, and the older weaving machine becomes a complete laser welding upgrade — installed and ready to use immediately, without modifying the original machine. The industrial design also keeps operators in mind, with an ergonomic standing height, hidden wiring, auto-stop protection, and remote phone alerts through the PWM smart fan control system.
MCW Specifications at a Glance
| MCW – Optical Properties | MCW-1000 | MCW-1500 | MCW-2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser wavelength | 1080 nm ± 5 nm | 1080 nm ± 5 nm | 1080 nm ± 5 nm |
| Maximum peak power | 1000 W | 1500 W | 2000 W |
| Pulse width | 0.1–10.0 ms | 0.1–10.0 ms | 0.1–10.0 ms |
| Operating mode | MCW | MCW | MCW |
| Fiber core | 20 / 50 / 100 µm | 20 / 50 / 100 µm | 20 / 50 / 100 µm |
| Fiber output number | 1, QBH interface | 1, QBH interface | 1, QBH interface |
| Fiber armor length | 10 m | 10 m | 10 m |
| Power adjustment range | 10–100% | 10–100% | 10–100% |
| Electro-optical efficiency (whole machine) | 30% (typical value) | 30% (typical value) | 30% (typical value) |
| Indicating red light power | 100 µW | 100 µW | 100 µW |
| Fiber optic cable bending radius | 200 mm | 200 mm | 200 mm |
| Welding spot diameter | 0.1–0.6 mm | 0.1–0.6 mm | 0.1–0.6 mm |
| Ball type injection head | Collimation FC 80 mm / Focus FF 100 mm (optional) | Collimation FC 80 mm / Focus FF 100 mm (optional) | Collimation FC 80 mm / Focus FF 100 mm (optional) |
| Laser on / off time | 100 µs / 100 µs | 100 µs / 100 µs | 100 µs / 100 µs |
General Characteristics
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cooling method | Water cooled (built-in chiller) |
| Laser operating temperature | 5°C – 50°C |
| Working environment relative humidity | 20% – 90% |
| Power requirements | AC 110–260 V, 50/60 Hz |
| Storage temperature | −10°C to 60°C |
Standard Configuration and Installation
Each MCW system ships as a turnkey package. The standard configuration includes:
- MCW laser unit
- Ball type injection head
- AC power cord
- Optoelectronic switch
- Scram (emergency stop) button
- 7-inch control screen
- Water chiller
- 3-color warning light
- Exit head protection window
- Tool kit
- Dust-free cotton swabs and dust-free paper for optics care
Installation covers mounting the laser head bracket onto the weaving machine, connecting the fiber and chiller lines, and power-up calibration. Because the optical path and cooling are engineered as a matched set, the system reaches stable welding output right after startup.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will laser welding affect the purity of my 22K gold chain?
No solder powder is added, so the alloy at the joint stays as it was — the link keeps its 22K rating instead of dropping toward 20K, and there is no discoloration or post-weld furnace treatment needed.
2. Which chain styles can the MCW weld?
Ten documented styles: ball, box, curb, figaro, filled flat cable, flat cable, gauge wire, rolo, rope, and snake chain, in gold, silver, copper, and stainless steel.
3. Can it be fitted to my existing Italian chain weaving machine?
Yes. A dedicated laser head mounting bracket is included, so traditional Italian machines can be upgraded directly without modifying the original equipment.
4. How does maintenance compare with a YAG laser machine?
The fiber laser source is maintenance-free with zero consumables — no bulb or lamp changes — and total maintenance cost is typically about 1/5 of a YAG system.
5. Which power model should I choose?
The series covers MCW-1000, MCW-1500, and MCW-2000 (maximum peak power 1000 W, 1500 W, and 2000 W). Higher power supports heavier gauges and faster cycles; send us your chain style and wire size and we will recommend a model.
6. Can it run continuously?
Yes. The built-in water chiller and DC PWM fan ducts are designed for 24/7 continuous operation, with auto-stop protection and remote phone alerts for safety.
How to Evaluate an MCW Chain Making Laser Welding Machine
Before ordering, check four things against your current line:
- Chain styles and gauges: confirm your designs are covered (the 10 styles above) and note wire diameter for spot-size matching.
- Weaving speed: the laser head is rated for 600–700 rpm high-speed weaving; confirm your machine's rpm.
- Retrofit vs. new: if you run traditional Italian machines, the included mounting bracket usually makes retrofit the faster path.
- Power model: match MCW-1000/1500/2000 to your typical metal and link weight — sample processing settles this quickly.
The fastest way to decide is a sample test: send us your chain (or wire specs) and we will weld samples on the MCW and return them with process parameters. Contact the Mavenlaser application team to arrange it.
About the Author
This guide was prepared by the application team at Shenzhen Mavenlaser Automation Co., Ltd. (Mavenlaser). We specialize in jewelry laser welders, laser marking machines, jewelry laser cutters, automatic chain welding machines, and clasp bending & welding equipment. Visit www.mavenlazer.com or contact us at +86 150 1407 6831 to discuss your project or request sample processing.
-
Phone
-
E-mail
-
Whatsapp
-
Wechat
Wechat
-
Top
