Laser welding repair of large plastics injection mould tools in-situ also allows a wide variety of metals to be added to tools including tool steels, stainless steels, aluminium and copper.
Rofin-Baasel UK launch the new system for repair of plastics injection mould tools, the StarWeld Tool Open. The StarWeld Tool Open offers the benefit of being able to weld larger and heavier tools which could not fit inside the enclosure of the StarWeld Tool Integral. Bringing the laser to the workpiece overcomes the size and weight restrictions of fitting the tools inside the enclosure of the system.

Available with laser sources from 40W to 250W the StarWeld Tool Open allows a wide variety of metals to be added to tools including tool steels, stainless steels, aluminium and copper.

The focus head of the laser system is mounted on a small XYZ assembly to allow fine positioning and welding under joystick control.

Coarse positioning is achieved using the horizontal and vertical support arms.

The welding head offers motorised beam diameter adjustment and the head is mounted on ball and socket locking mechanism to apply any angular approach required.

Viewing of the weld area is by a small LCD monitor with high resolution and crosswire targeting.

Build up welding to repair damaged surfaces and edges using wires in the range of 0.25 to 0.5mm diameter allows fine welding with low heat input and the addition of the same material as the original tool means that after remachining and polishing the welded repair is invisible.