We have a laser welding process on steel and Cobalt that runs hot and deep. We have not been using a shield gas for some time, but the issue of whether or not we should be keeps coming up. Are there benefits to a shield gas, namely Argon, other than the appearance factor? Does it reduce spatter? We aren't interested in appearance nor hermetic welds, we are after weld strength. Would a shield gas assist in this?
Thanks!