Not strictly laser welding but, it is now possible to build a 3D component using a selective laser melting machine which builds high quality parts and tooling inserts from almost any type of metal: Stainless steel tool steel, titanium, cobalt-chrome, various nonferrous-metals. The process is perfectly suited for jewellery and dental applications, for example rings, pendants, individually generated medical implants, dental bridges and crowns from Cobalt chrome and stainless steel (316L).
The machine deposits a layer of metal powder and then laser fuses it to the previous layer to build up the component from a 3D image. In the case of a dental implant, the resulting surface finish is perfect for the overlaying ceramic layer to bond onto.
It's an amazing machine to see working
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