Manufacturing With Light

“When did using global variables become a programming sin? And when did making a simple machine complicated become good engineering?

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Global Variables in PLC Programming: Are We Making This Too Complicated? MWL Automation Notes | Manufacturing With Light I’ve read quite a few articles and discussions lately suggesting that PLC programmers should avoid global variables. Some go so far as to imply that using them is simply bad programming practice. I don’t entirely agree. I … Read more

Manufacturing With Light Weekly Edition 16

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Smart Robotic Welding, Record-Depth Laser Welds, and Why Welding Parameters Matter November 12, 2026 Welcome to another edition of Manufacturing With Light Weekly! This week, we’re looking at several interesting developments in welding technology, from robots that can adapt to the actual part instead of following a fixed programmed path, to researchers achieving an impressive … Read more

What Does It Really Cost to Bring Handheld Laser Welding Into Your Shop?

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The price of the welder is only part of the investment. Handheld laser welding is attracting considerable attention, and for good reason. Modern systems can produce impressive welds, often with relatively little distortion and less post-weld finishing than some conventional processes. Manufacturers are also promoting faster welding speeds and shorter operator learning curves. For smaller … Read more

Manufacturing With Light Weekly Edition 15

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Thursday, November 5, 2026 From Aerospace Additive Manufacturing to Portable Laser Repair: Making Laser Processes Work in Production Welcome to Edition 15 of Manufacturing With Light Weekly. This week’s stories cover a wide range of laser manufacturing applications, but they have something important in common. The challenge isn’t simply making a laser process work. It’s … Read more

Manufacturing With Light Weekly Edition 11

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Four very different ways lasers are moving deeper into manufacturing This week’s stories remind us that laser manufacturing goes far beyond cutting sheet metal and welding parts. We start with an application that isn’t new, but I think it deserves another look: using laser energy instead of a conventional oven to cure powder coatings. From there … Read more

MWL Laser Manufacturing Weekly — Edition 10

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Active index 1. Handheld Laser Welding: The Question Is Becoming How to Implement It Handheld laser welding has spent the last several years getting attention for its speed, relatively low heat input, and ability to simplify certain welding applications. But an upcoming FABTECH 2026 technical session suggests the conversation is beginning to mature. The October … Read more

MWL Laser Manufacturing Weekly Edition 9

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From Handheld Welding to Advanced Packaging: Building Better Laser Manufacturing Platforms September 24, 2026 This week’s stories have a common theme: laser technology is becoming easier to turn into a production platform. IPG is showing handheld-laser users a path toward cobotic welding. Novanta is packaging the laser, scanner, controls, software, and calibration into one OEM … Read more

From Handheld Welding to Advanced Packaging: Building Better Laser-Manufacturing Platforms

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MWL Laser Manufacturing Weekly — Edition 9 September 24, 2026 This week’s stories have a common theme: laser technology is becoming easier to turn into a production platform. IPG is showing handheld-laser users a path toward cobotic welding. Novanta is packaging the laser, scanner, controls, software, and calibration into one OEM subsystem. ASMPT is combining … Read more

MWL Laser Manufacturing Weekly — Edition 8

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From Handheld Laser Safety to Smarter AM Quality September 17, 2026 Handheld laser welding continues to move into mainstream manufacturing, while metal additive manufacturing is becoming more focused on prediction, inspection, and repeatability. This week, a newly revised ISO standard addresses hand-held and hand-operated laser-processing machines. FANUC combines a manual laser-welding system with a collaborative … Read more

MWL Laser Manufacturing Weekly — Edition 7

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Blue Lasers, Beam Profiles, Microholes & Recovery This week we have four stories that touch very different parts of manufacturing with light. A blue diode laser is being used to deposit copper directly onto ceramic substrates. Tamron is moving into laser welding with a real-time beam profiler. New research shows just how much control is … Read more