Although a high initial investment is necessary, laser welding is being more widely employed by companies requiring large quantities of multi-point welds. This method employs robots, welding at speeds of up to 150 inches (3.8 m) per minute. Other processes--plasma arc, ultrasonic, and electron beam welding--are also available, but these methods are usually restricted to welding of particular materials with special design requirements, such as microelectronic and aerospace components. Suitability for general sheet metal applications is limited, and processing may be cost-prohibitive.
