Small, flexible lasers are available to jewelers. This study was undertaken to evaluate laser welds and compare them to braze joints with the same materials and geometry. Bend tests, metallography and the scanning electron microscope were chosen to evaluate the joints. Materials joined were Pt-4.8Ru and 18kt gold, both rolled strip and castings. Bevel and butt joints were used for geometries. The thickness of the materials were 0.030 to 0.075 inches. The bend test results are discussed in terms of the resulting micro structure.

Author: Constantino Volpe