Can Diode Lasers WELD? - Testing a Creality Falcon 2

Setting up and testing the new 40W Creality Falcon 2 Laser Cutter & Engraver, with a selection of creative experiments to get to know the process. I work mostly with metal so naturally wanted to try cutting and etching stainless steel, and discovering that the laser can also weld was a nice bonus!
Links to Amazon and Creality Store:
Amazon US, Code N6UAT7WY : cutt.ly/TwgDAybt
Amazon DE, Code 20FALCON : www.amazon.de/dp/B0C8N8PGMC?m...
Amazon UK, Code 20FALCON : www.amazon.co.uk/stores/page/...
Creality Store US, Code FN40W : store.creality.com/products/f...
Creality Store EU, Code FN40W : store.creality.com/eu/product...
Creality Store UK, Code FALCONALL : store.creality.com/uk/pages/e...
#CrealityFalcon2 #CrealityLaserEngraver #40WFalcon2
00:00 Unboxing, setting up and testing Creality Falcon 2 40W Laser
4:56 Cutting Stainless Steel with 40W Laser
6:13 How to weld Stainless Steel with a 40W Laser
11:35 Laser engraving Lichtenberg figure fractals
13:41 Conclusion

[@ConnorHolland]

Interested in getting a Creality Falcon 2 for your projects? Follow these links to Amazon and Creality Store:
Amazon US, Code N6UAT7WY : cutt.ly/TwgDAybt
Amazon DE, Code 20FALCON : www.amazon.de/dp/B0C8N8PGMC?maas=maas_adg_AD45668F5BD81FBD77CCC8FDC9BF6118_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
Amazon UK, Code 20FALCON : www.amazon.co.uk/stores/page/3692111B-352E-468F-AD9E-CAF0A984E748?channel=KOL
Creality Store US, Code FN40W : store.creality.com/products/falcon2-40w-laser-engraver-cutter?aid=ZBUS
Creality Store EU, Code FN40W : store.creality.com/eu/products/falcon2-40w-laser-engraver-cutter?aid=ZBEU
Creality Store UK, Code FALCONALL : store.creality.com/uk/pages/engraver-collection?aid=ZBUK

[@scottwillis5434]

My favorite laser safety sentence:
"Do not stare into laser beam with remaining eye."

[@Jonny8oh8]

Amazing job testing and application with a final product. 🎉

[@ConnorHolland]

Thank you

[@genemaster74]

G'day m8. Great vid on the 40w, I've a 1.6w Creality laser but im so scared of doing something wrong and burning down the home i havent taken it out of the box😱 Cheers from Downunder🙃

[@ConnorHolland]

G'day! Definitely give it a try, it's great fun. You can find the best cutting/engraving settings for different materials online, so there's less risk of the laser moving too slowly and heating up one area. It's recommended to stand by the machine whenever it's working, so it's easy to turn off quickly. There's nothing to worry about if your careful, enjoy it!

[@DanielSMatthews]

You may be able to use laser etching to temper areas of the metal such that it guides the deformation during inflation. Even a triangulation pattern that is locally scales to match the desired curvature may help with that.

[@ConnorHolland]

Interesting, it's also possible to weld lines in the centre of the piece to restrict inflation and create complex shapes. I did this to create the Lilo Bench, my first major hydroforming project

[@DanielSMatthews]

@@ConnorHolland You can also add solder paste or flux etc. in the areas you want welded to seal them better, applied with a laser cut stencil too. So many possibilities for a renaissance mind who can creatively apply technical methods.

[@jkjome4095]

Great video. Have you tried cutting thin brass, copper, aluminum or bronze sheets?

[@ConnorHolland]

From what I've seen online, stainless steel is the best metal for this, as the others either dissipate the heat or reflect the laser

[@LUXPLEASURE]

Great Job!
Have you tried engraving ABS material?

[@ConnorHolland]

Thanks, I haven't tried plastics yet, but need to be careful with some types as they can melt or emit dangerous fumes. There's more details online

[@robotron26]

How long did that stainless steel coaster take to produce? Very beautiful

[@ConnorHolland]

Engraving the stainless takes 22 minutes, and felt 3m, so less than half an hour including the cutting out

[@eriksiegler5832]

I just ordered one of these what Lightburn program are you using? 32 or 64?

[@eriksiegler5832]

I ask this because I want to start familiarizing myself with it before I get it.

[@eriksiegler5832]

Can you put a link to your magnets as well?

[@ConnorHolland]

I use LightBurn with a 64 bit operating system, it depends if your computer is 32 or 64 bit.
Here's the magnets: Amazon UK = amzn.to/3t9gP2F Amazon US = amzn.to/3tfejYU
You will need a steel Honeycomb for them: Amazon UK = amzn.to/46xyEHo Amazon US = amzn.to/3rCMauc

[@eriksiegler5832]

thank you!!!

[@joels80]

Im new to this, what are the magnets for?

[@ConnorHolland]

Just to clamp down the material to stop it moving during cutting/etching, the thin metal can be springy and difficult to lay flat without the magnets

[@benveasey7474]

What thickness of st st can it cut through?

[@ConnorHolland]

I've been cutting 0.15mm thick stainless. I tried cutting a double layer (0.3mm) at 10:31 and it didn't piece through, although I haven't yet tried a slower speed or adding another pass

[@matmay]

​@@ConnorHollandcould you please test that?