Of course. This is an excellent question that gets to the heart of how different industrial laser processes work. The term "Wire Feeder" is the key to understanding the context.
Let's break it down. A wire feeder is a component almost exclusively associated with welding and is not used in standard fiber laser cleaning or cutting. Its presence or absence defines the machine's primary function.
Here is a detailed explanation of the wire feeder's role in each process:
1. In Fiber Laser Welding Machine
This is the primary and correct application for a wire feeder.
What it does: The wire feeder is a mechanical system that pushes a spool of filler metal (the "welding wire") through a torch or a separate nozzle at a controlled, precise speed.
Why it's used:
To Add Material: It fills the gap between two parts being joined, creating a stronger weld bead.
To Modify Properties: The filler wire can have a different chemical composition than the base metals, improving the weld's strength, corrosion resistance, or other properties.
To Bridge Gaps: It allows for welding even if the parts don't fit together perfectly.
How it works with the Laser: The laser creates a molten pool on the base metal. The wire feeder directs the filler wire into this molten pool, where it melts and fuses with the base material. The system is synchronized so the wire speed matches the laser's power and the travel speed of the laser head.
In short: For welding, the wire feeder is an essential add-on that provides the filler material for the joint.
2. In Fiber Laser Cutting Machine
A wire feeder is NOT used in laser cutting.
The Goal of Cutting: The objective is to remove material by melting, burning, or vaporizing it to sever a part. Adding material is counterproductive.
The Process: The focused laser beam heats a small spot on the material to its melting or ignition point. A high-pressure stream of gas (e.g., Nitrogen for stainless steel, Oxygen for carbon steel) blows the molten material out of the kerf (the cut), creating a clean separation.
Why no wire? Introducing a wire would contaminate the cut, create imperfections, and simply not make any sense for the process.
3. In Fiber Laser Cleaning / Rust Removal
A wire feeder is NOT used in laser cleaning.
The Goal of Cleaning: The objective is to remove unwanted surface contaminants (rust, paint, oil, oxides) without damaging the underlying substrate.
The Process: The short pulses of the laser beam cause the contaminant layer to vibrate intensely and evaporate or turn into plasma, which then dissipates. The underlying metal, which has a higher ablation threshold, remains unaffected. The process is abative (removes material), not additive.
Why no wire? There is absolutely no reason to add material during a cleaning process. The machine is designed solely for removal.
The Confusion: "Rust Moving"
The term "Rust Moving" is likely a mistranslation or a colloquial term for Laser Cleaning. It does not involve physically "moving" rust with a wire. The laser "moves" the rust by ablating (vaporizing) it off the surface.
Summary Table
| Process | Primary Goal | Is a Wire Feeder Used? | Purpose of Wire Feeder (if used) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser Welding | Join materials | Yes, Essential | To add filler metal to the weld joint. |
| Laser Cutting | Sever materials | No | Adding material would ruin the cut. |
| Laser Cleaning | Remove contaminants | No | Adding material is the opposite of the goal. |
Conclusion
If you see a machine described as a "Fiber Laser Machine with a Wire Feeder," you are almost certainly looking at a Laser Welding System. The presence of the wire feeder is the defining feature that differentiates a welder from a cleaner or cutter.
The same laser source can sometimes be integrated into different machines (a single chassis might be configurable for both cutting and welding), but the wire feeder module would only be installed and used when the machine is set up for its welding function.
