As Bropel's Steve Johnson explains, "People were talking about a new micro-welding process, but none of our suppliers knew anything about it. After extensive research, the solution pointed to lasers". The important advantage of laser welding over TIG is the much lower degree of heat input to the workpiece. This allows much more precise work with a negligible heat-affected zone. "With TIG, the best we can get is a 1.0 to 1.5mm diameter spot - and that is pushing it. With the laser we can get a 0.2mm diameter spot 0.1mm high", says Steve. "We can weld around 95% of the tool steels on the market, as well as metals ranging from titanium to beryllium-copper and stainless steel. We have even been asked to work on gold and silver". The TRUMPF laser was integrated by Laservorm in a bespoke three-axis welding cell that can take tools weighing up to ten tonnes. "We knew, and had been told by other users, that the TRUMPF laser was very reliable, and it has achieved everything we expected of it. We are now the only Company in the country that can laser weld tools weighing up to 10 tonnes", says Steve. | 
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