Applications of Lasers in Industry
Introduction: Since its advent in the 1960s, laser technology has rapidly evolved into a pivotal tool in industrial manufacturing, thanks to its high energy density, excellent directionality and controllability. Compared with traditional mechanical processing methods, laser processing boasts distinct advantages such as non-contact operation, high precision and high automation, and is widely applied in industrial manufacturing processes including material cutting, welding, marking, drilling and additive manufacturing. Based on laser types and their process characteristics, industrial laser processing is mainly categorized into three types: laser cutting, laser welding and laser additive manufacturing, each with unique working mechanisms and application scopes.
Laser Cutting
Laser cutting is one of the most mature industrial laser applications. It utilizes high-power laser beams to melt and vaporize materials, and cooperates with auxiliary gases to blow away molten slag, achieving efficient and precise cutting. At present, CO₂ lasers and fiber lasers are mainstream equipment, suitable for cutting medium and thin plates of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy and other materials. This technology is characterized by narrow kerf, small heat-affected zone, no need for molds and quick switching of processing paths, making it particularly applicable to high-demand industries such as automotive manufacturing, sheet metal processing and aerospace.
(1) In automotive manufacturing, laser cutting is used to produce various components ranging from body panels to engines. For instance, fiber lasers are adopted for high-precision cutting of high-strength steel parts, thereby realizing the lightweight design of automobiles.
(2) The aerospace industry also benefits from laser cutting technology, especially in the production of complex components made of advanced materials such as titanium and composite materials. For example, ultra-fast lasers can be used to cut complex-shaped titanium alloy components while minimizing thermal damage, ensuring the structural integrity of the components and significantly improving the performance and safety of aerospace parts.
Laser Welding
Laser welding achieves material joining by using laser beams to rapidly melt metal materials, featuring deep penetration, high speed and low heat input. Common welding modes include continuous laser welding and pulsed laser welding, which are suitable for precision welding of thin plates and deep penetration welding scenarios. Compared with arc welding, laser welding produces welds with high strength and minimal deformation, and is applicable to fields such as power battery packaging, stainless steel component welding and nuclear power structural part manufacturing. Particularly in battery manufacturing, laser welding has become the mainstream connection method.
(1) In the automotive industry, laser welding is used to join body panels, engine components and other key parts. For example, fiber lasers are employed for high-precision welding of high-strength steel components, forming robust and durable joints.
(2) In the electronics industry, laser welding is applied to the high-precision connection of small and delicate components. For instance, diode lasers are used to weld battery cells in lithium-ion batteries, ensuring the reliability of electrical connections.
(3) In the aerospace industry, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner adopts laser welding technology to join titanium alloys and composite materials, which greatly reduces the number of rivets, lowers the fuselage weight and improves fuel efficiency.
Laser Additive Manufacturing
Laser additive manufacturing (namely laser 3D printing) realizes the layer-by-layer deposition of complex structures by melting powder or wire materials layer by layer, representing a transformation of manufacturing methods from “subtractive manufacturing” to “additive manufacturing”. Laser-based additive manufacturing processes, such as selective laser melting (SLM) and direct metal deposition (DMD), are capable of producing complex metal components with high precision and high strength. Compared with traditional processing, laser additive manufacturing can realize the integrated forming and lightweight design of complex structures while maintaining material strength.
(1) In automotive manufacturing, titanium alloy components of Ferrari F1 racing cars are manufactured using laser additive manufacturing technology, which enhances the heat resistance and strength of the parts and optimizes the aerodynamic design of the racing cars.
(2) In the medical industry, laser-based additive manufacturing is used to produce customized implants and prosthetics.
(3) In the aerospace industry, laser-based additive manufacturing is applied to the production of complex components such as turbine blades and fuel nozzles.
Conclusion
As an important pillar of advanced manufacturing, laser technology is constantly expanding its boundaries of industrial applications. Currently, laser processing is also developing towards higher power, higher precision and multi-process hybridization, such as laser-arc hybrid welding, ultra-fast laser micromachining and laser intelligent monitoring systems. In the future, with the continuous advancement of high-power semiconductor lasers, intelligent control systems and green manufacturing concepts, laser processing will continue to play a key role in fields such as intelligent manufacturing, personalized products and extreme material processing.
Post time: Jan-07-2026
