Name: FastBeam 3 laser welding machine
Brand: Kemppi

Question 1

What is handheld laser welding?

Accepted Answer

Handheld laser welding uses a focused laser beam that an operator guides manually along the joint. The concentrated energy creates a narrow weld with a small heat-affected zone. FastBeam 3 brings this technology into industrial production, supporting high welding speeds, controlled heat input and clean welds with low distortion.

Question 2

Which applications are best suited to handheld laser welding?

Accepted Answer

FastBeam 3 is particularly suitable for thin and medium sheet-metal applications where speed, low distortion, clean weld appearance and repeatability matter. Typical applications include stainless-steel structures, enclosures, cabinets, frames, covers, HVAC components, kitchen and food-industry equipment and other fabricated metal parts with consistent joint fit-up. It can deliver significant production benefits when reduced grinding, straightening and rework improve the overall manufacturing flow.

Question 3

Which materials can FastBeam 3 weld?

Accepted Answer

FastBeam 3 is designed for welding common industrial metals, including stainless steel, carbon steel, mild steel, and aluminum. Weld Assist and controlled energy delivery help operators find suitable starting parameters for different materials and thicknesses. Material suitability still depends on the exact grade, surface condition, coating, joint type and selected parameters. Coated materials, such as galvanized steel, and highly reflective materials, such as copper and brass, require special attention and should always undergo application testing before production.

Question 4

What material thicknesses can FastBeam 3 handle?

Accepted Answer

FastBeam 3 can weld materials up to 8 mm thick in suitable applications. The achievable thickness depends on the material, joint design, required penetration, welding position, filler-wire use and travel speed. The 8 mm figure represents the upper application range rather than a universal limit for all materials or joints. Sample welds and application testing should confirm the correct thickness range for each component and its quality requirements.

Question 5

How does laser welding compare with TIG and MIG/MAG welding?

Accepted Answer

Compared with TIG and MIG/MAG welding, FastBeam 3 can provide higher speeds, lower heat input, a narrower heat-affected zone and less distortion, particularly in thin and medium sheet-metal applications. The process can also reduce grinding, straightening and other post-weld work. Weld Assist and Penetration Shape Control support a more repeatable setup and reduce parameter-selection complexity. TIG and MIG/MAG welding may remain more suitable for applications involving inconsistent fit-up, large gaps, difficult site conditions or heavy structural components.

Question 6

What are the main benefits of laser welding in industrial production?

Accepted Answer

FastBeam 3 can increase welding speed, reduce distortion, minimise post-weld finishing and produce clean, repeatable welds. Lower heat input can also help components maintain their shape and dimensions, reducing the need for straightening and rework. Built-in process guidance helps trained operators establish suitable starting parameters more efficiently. Manufacturers can therefore improve more than the welding step alone. They can shorten the total production time for each accepted component.

Question 7

How strong are laser-welded joints?

Accepted Answer

Laser-welded joints can achieve high strength when the joint design, penetration, material preparation and welding parameters are correct. Weld strength depends on the application rather than the welding process alone. Manufacturers must verify the finished joint against the relevant product standard, welding procedure, inspection plan and customer requirements. Test welds may require visual inspection, destructive testing or non-destructive testing, depending on the component and its quality classification.

Question 8

How precise must the joint fit-up be for laser welding?

Accepted Answer

Laser welding generally requires more accurate joint fit-up than TIG or MIG/MAG welding because the focused beam and weld pool are narrow. Clean edges, consistent gaps, stable clamping and accurate alignment help maintain penetration and weld quality. If a gap exceeds the validated process range, the application may require filler wire, adjusted parameters or a different joint design. Application testing should establish acceptable gap tolerances before production begins.

Question 9

When is filler wire needed in handheld laser welding?

Accepted Answer

Handheld laser welding does not always require filler wire. Autogenous welding, which joins the parent materials without added wire, can produce fast and clean results when the joint fit-up is consistent. Filler wire can help bridge gaps, control the weld profile, compensate for material loss or meet specific metallurgical requirements. The decision depends on the material, joint type, gap size, required weld appearance and applicable quality requirements.

Question 10

How does Penetration Shape Control improve laser welding?

Accepted Answer

Penetration Shape Control, or PSC, helps operators adapt the weld profile to the application by controlling how FastBeam 3 delivers energy into the joint. It supports more accurate control of penetration, bead shape and heat input. This added control helps operators establish a stable process for different materials, thicknesses and joint types while reducing the risk of excessive or insufficient penetration.

Question 11

How does Weld Assist help operators select welding parameters?

Accepted Answer

Weld Assist guides the operator towards suitable starting parameters based on the selected material and thickness. It reduces setup time and helps the operator establish a reliable parameter window before fine-tuning the process with test welds. Weld Assist supports parameter selection, but it does not replace application testing or welding procedure validation. The operator must still confirm the finished weld against the application’s quality requirements.

Question 12

What training does an operator need before using FastBeam 3?

Accepted Answer

Operators must complete laser safety training before using FastBeam 3. Before participating in Kemppi’s practical FastBeam 3 training, operators must complete the required laser safety training on the Kemppi Campus. Employers must also provide site-specific and application-specific training. This should cover equipment functions, Weld Assist, Penetration Shape Control, parameter selection, joint preparation, shielding gas, filler-wire use, personal protective equipment, safe operating practices, and emergency procedures.

Question 13

What safety measures are required for handheld laser welding?

Accepted Answer

Companies must manage handheld laser welding as a controlled laser process. The employer must complete a documented risk assessment and assign laser-safety responsibilities to a competent person, often called a Laser Safety Officer. FastBeam 3 must operate inside a defined Laser Controlled Area. The required controls may include laser-rated barriers or an enclosure, restricted access, warning signs and lights, interlocked entry controls, emergency-stop functions, appropriate personal protective equipment and effective fume extraction. The risk assessment must address direct, scattered and reflected laser radiation. The exact controls must follow the FastBeam 3 operating instructions, applicable laser-safety standards and local legislation.

Question 14

What protective equipment is needed when operating FastBeam 3?

Accepted Answer

Operators and other authorized personnel inside the Laser Controlled Area must use laser protective equipment that matches the laser wavelength, operating mode, and assessed exposure risk. Required protection includes approved laser safety eyewear and a suitable laser welding helmet. Operators may also need protective clothing, welding gloves and protection against heat, spatter and welding fumes. The FastBeam 3 operating instructions and site-specific risk assessment determine the exact PPE requirements. Personal protective equipment supports safe operation but does not replace barriers, access controls, interlocks or other engineering measures.

Question 15

What workspace or enclosure does handheld laser welding require?

Accepted Answer

FastBeam 3 must operate inside a Laser Controlled Area that prevents hazardous direct, reflected or scattered laser radiation from reaching people outside the process zone. The installation will normally require a dedicated enclosure or an area protected by suitable laser-rated barriers. Depending on the risk assessment and local requirements, the area may also need controlled access, interlocked entry points, warning lights, laser-safety signs and emergency-stop functions. The workspace must include effective fume extraction and safe arrangements for shielding gas, workpieces and reflective surfaces. Only trained and authorized personnel may enter the controlled area while the laser can emit radiation.

Question 16

Can existing welding procedures and qualifications be used for laser welding?

Accepted Answer

Existing TIG, MIG/MAG or other arc-welding procedures cannot generally be transferred directly to laser welding. Laser welding uses a different process and requires its own parameter validation, quality verification and, where applicable, welding procedure qualification.ISO 15614-11:2025 specifies requirements for qualifying welding procedure specifications for electron and laser beam welding. The applicable qualification and documentation requirements ultimately depend on the product standard, industry, customer and local regulations.

Question 17

How can manufacturers maintain consistent laser-weld quality?

Accepted Answer

Manufacturers can maintain consistent quality by controlling both the FastBeam 3 process and the conditions around it. Stable laser output, effective water cooling, Weld Assist and Penetration Shape Control help operators establish and repeat suitable welding parameters.Production teams must also control joint preparation, clamping, material cleanliness, acceptable gaps, shielding-gas flow, focal position, travel speed and filler-wire settings. Validated parameters, regular test welds, visual inspection and clearly defined acceptance criteria help keep the process within the approved range.Kemppi’s application support can help customers test their components and establish a suitable process window before production begins.

Question 18

What maintenance does a handheld laser welding system require?

Accepted Answer

FastBeam 3 requires regular inspection and preventive maintenance to maintain stable performance and safe operation. Routine checks cover the torch, protective glass, wire-feeding components, cooling system, shielding-gas supply, cables, connectors and safety functions.Operators should inspect and replace consumable optical components only according to the operating instructions. Authorized service personnel should handle internal optical components and enclosed parts of the laser system. Maintenance intervals depend on operating hours, production conditions and the manufacturer’s service instructions.

Question 19

How can a company calculate the return on investment from laser welding?

Accepted Answer

Companies should calculate the return on investment based on the cost of producing an accepted component rather than on welding speed alone.The calculation should include:Welding and setup timeJoint preparation and fixturingGrinding and other finishing workDistortion and straighteningRework and rejected componentsOperator trainingLaser-safety investmentsMaintenance and consumablesProduction throughput and quality improvementsFastBeam 3 offers the strongest return potential when it increases throughput, reduces distortion and removes time-consuming post-processing. Repeated parts with consistent joint fit-up often offer the clearest opportunity, although the outcome ultimately depends on the entire production process.

Description	Value
Welding filter type	LASER DIN 2,5-5
LED light	No
Flip-up visor	No
Manufacturer	KEMPPI
Standards	EN 207:2017; EN ISO 16321-1:2022; EN ISO 16321-2:2022

Description	Value
Operating voltage [U1]	48 V
Supply voltage	48 V
Supply current at maximum load	1 A
EMC class	A
Wire feed mechanism	4-roll
Diameter of feed rolls	32 mm
Filler wire diameter	0.8 ... 1.6 mm
Filler wire diameter, Fe	0.8 ... 1.6 mm
Filler wire diameter, Ss	0.8 ... 1.6 mm
Filler wire diameter, Al	1 ... 1.6 mm
Wire feed speed	0.2 ... 6 m/min
Maximum wire spool weight	20 kg
Maximum wire spool diameter	300 mm
Operating temperature	-20 ... 40 °C
Storage temperature	-40 ... 60 °C
Degree of protection (fully installed)	IP33
External dimensions, length	611 mm
External dimensions, width	230 mm
External dimensions, height	441 mm
Weight without accessories	9.2 kg
Standards	IEC 60974-5, -10

Description	Value
Mains connection voltage	380...415 V ±10 %
Mains connection phases	3~50/60 Hz
Mains connection cable type	5G, H07RN-F
Mains connection cable size	2.5 mm²
Laser type	Optical fiber laser
Laser class	4
Optical fiber diameter	50 μm
Optical fiber length	10 m
Maximum laser power	3000 W
Laser wavelength	1070 NANOMETER
Laser beam quality	BPP 0.7
Idle state power consumption [P1idle]	85 W
Power factor at rated maximum current [λ]	0.95
Efficiency at rated maximum current [η]	33 %
EMC class	A
Voltage supply for auxiliary devices	48 V
Control panel, model	ControlPad
Control panel, type of installation	Wired remote
Wired communication type	CAN bus, Ethernet, Modbus/RS485
Type of cooling	Liquid
Operating temperature	5 ... 40 °C
Storage temperature	5 ... 40 °C
Degree of protection (fully installed)	IP33
External dimensions, length	1100 mm
External dimensions, width	468 mm
External dimensions, height	847 mm
Weight without accessories	110 kg
Standards	EN ISO 11553-2, EN 60204-1, EN ISO 12100, EN IEC 61000-6-2, EN IEC 61000-6-4

Description	Value
Operating voltage [U1]	48 V
Display	7" TFT
Wired communication type	Ethernet
Operating temperature	-20 ... 40 °C
Storage temperature	-30 ... 60 °C
Degree of protection (fully installed)	IP54
External dimensions, length	255 mm
External dimensions, width	132 mm
External dimensions, height	67 mm

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FastBeam 3 laser welding machine

Finnish-made reliability for long-term production

Faster setup and precise weld control

Industry leading laser welding safety

Handheld laser welding engineered for high-volume production

Adapt the laser to each welding job

Faster setup to weld work

Stable performance with external water cooling

FastBeam 3 laser welding machine

FastBeam 3

CoolFeed 300

Chiller for 3 kW laser

ControlPad

Main Features

Materials

FAQ

Finnish-made industrial laser welding machine

Set-up to weld in no time

Shape penetration nailing every joint

Industry leading built-in safety part of the welding sequence

Keep process control close to the welder

Stable performance with water-cooling

Single or dual-wire feeding

Perfected ergonomics for accuracy

Built to move where the action is

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