nist-gov/www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts
2025-03-05 18:59:57 +00:00

1518 lines
112 KiB
Text
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ og: http://ogp.me/ns# rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# schema: http://schema.org/ sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema# ">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8" /><script type="text/javascript">(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).init={ajax:{deny_list:["bam.nr-data.net"]}};(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).loader_config={licenseKey:"37b7ccb661",applicationID:"1089704227"};;/*! For license information please see nr-loader-rum-1.283.2.min.js.LICENSE.txt */
(()=>{var e,t,r={122:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{a:()=>i});var n=r(944);function i(e,t){try{if(!e||"object"!=typeof e)return(0,n.R)(3);if(!t||"object"!=typeof t)return(0,n.R)(4);const r=Object.create(Object.getPrototypeOf(t),Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(t)),o=0===Object.keys(r).length?e:r;for(let a in o)if(void 0!==e[a])try{if(null===e[a]){r[a]=null;continue}Array.isArray(e[a])&&Array.isArray(t[a])?r[a]=Array.from(new Set([...e[a],...t[a]])):"object"==typeof e[a]&&"object"==typeof t[a]?r[a]=i(e[a],t[a]):r[a]=e[a]}catch(e){(0,n.R)(1,e)}return r}catch(e){(0,n.R)(2,e)}}},555:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{Vp:()=>c,fn:()=>s,x1:()=>u});var n=r(384),i=r(122);const o={beacon:n.NT.beacon,errorBeacon:n.NT.errorBeacon,licenseKey:void 0,applicationID:void 0,sa:void 0,queueTime:void 0,applicationTime:void 0,ttGuid:void 0,user:void 0,account:void 0,product:void 0,extra:void 0,jsAttributes:{},userAttributes:void 0,atts:void 0,transactionName:void 0,tNamePlain:void 0},a={};function s(e){try{const t=c(e);return!!t.licenseKey&&!!t.errorBeacon&&!!t.applicationID}catch(e){return!1}}function c(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All info objects require an agent identifier!");if(!a[e])throw new Error("Info for ".concat(e," was never set"));return a[e]}function u(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All info objects require an agent identifier!");a[e]=(0,i.a)(t,o);const r=(0,n.nY)(e);r&&(r.info=a[e])}},217:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{D0:()=>m,gD:()=>v,xN:()=>h});r(860).K7.genericEvents;const n="experimental.marks",i="experimental.measures",o="experimental.resources",a=e=>{if(!e||"string"!=typeof e)return!1;try{document.createDocumentFragment().querySelector(e)}catch{return!1}return!0};var s=r(614),c=r(944),u=r(384),l=r(122);const d="[data-nr-mask]",f=()=>{const e={feature_flags:[],experimental:{marks:!1,measures:!1,resources:!1},mask_selector:"*",block_selector:"[data-nr-block]",mask_input_options:{color:!1,date:!1,"datetime-local":!1,email:!1,month:!1,number:!1,range:!1,search:!1,tel:!1,text:!1,time:!1,url:!1,week:!1,textarea:!1,select:!1,password:!0}};return{ajax:{deny_list:void 0,block_internal:!0,enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},distributed_tracing:{enabled:void 0,exclude_newrelic_header:void 0,cors_use_newrelic_header:void 0,cors_use_tracecontext_headers:void 0,allowed_origins:void 0},get feature_flags(){return e.feature_flags},set feature_flags(t){e.feature_flags=t},generic_events:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},harvest:{interval:30},jserrors:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},logging:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},metrics:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},obfuscate:void 0,page_action:{enabled:!0},page_view_event:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},page_view_timing:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},performance:{get capture_marks(){return e.feature_flags.includes(n)||e.experimental.marks},set capture_marks(t){e.experimental.marks=t},get capture_measures(){return e.feature_flags.includes(i)||e.experimental.measures},set capture_measures(t){e.experimental.measures=t},capture_detail:!0,resources:{get enabled(){return e.feature_flags.includes(o)||e.experimental.resources},set enabled(t){e.experimental.resources=t},asset_types:[],first_party_domains:[],ignore_newrelic:!0}},privacy:{cookies_enabled:!0},proxy:{assets:void 0,beacon:void 0},session:{expiresMs:s.wk,inactiveMs:s.BB},session_replay:{autoStart:!0,enabled:!1,preload:!1,sampling_rate:10,error_sampling_rate:100,collect_fonts:!1,inline_images:!1,fix_stylesheets:!0,mask_all_inputs:!0,get mask_text_selector(){return e.mask_selector},set mask_text_selector(t){a(t)?e.mask_selector="".concat(t,",").concat(d):""===t||null===t?e.mask_selector=d:(0,c.R)(5,t)},get block_class(){return"nr-block"},get ignore_class(){return"nr-ignore"},get mask_text_class(){return"nr-mask"},get block_selector(){return e.block_selector},set block_selector(t){a(t)?e.block_selector+=",".concat(t):""!==t&&(0,c.R)(6,t)},get mask_input_options(){return e.mask_input_options},set mask_input_options(t){t&&"object"==typeof t?e.mask_input_options={...t,password:!0}:(0,c.R)(7,t)}},session_trace:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},soft_navigations:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},spa:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},ssl:void 0,user_actions:{enabled:!0,elementAttributes:["id","className","tagName","type"]}}},g={},p="All configuration objects require an agent identifier!";function m(e){if(!e)throw new Error(p);if(!g[e])throw new Error("Configuration for ".concat(e," was never set"));return g[e]}function h(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error(p);g[e]=(0,l.a)(t,f());const r=(0,u.nY)(e);r&&(r.init=g[e])}function v(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error(p);var r=m(e);if(r){for(var n=t.split("."),i=0;i<n.length-1;i++)if("object"!=typeof(r=r[n[i]]))return;r=r[n[n.length-1]]}return r}},371:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{V:()=>f,f:()=>d});var n=r(122),i=r(384),o=r(154),a=r(324);let s=0;const c={buildEnv:a.F3,distMethod:a.Xs,version:a.xv,originTime:o.WN},u={customTransaction:void 0,disabled:!1,isolatedBacklog:!1,loaderType:void 0,maxBytes:3e4,onerror:void 0,ptid:void 0,releaseIds:{},appMetadata:{},session:void 0,denyList:void 0,timeKeeper:void 0,obfuscator:void 0,harvester:void 0},l={};function d(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All runtime objects require an agent identifier!");if(!l[e])throw new Error("Runtime for ".concat(e," was never set"));return l[e]}function f(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All runtime objects require an agent identifier!");l[e]={...(0,n.a)(t,u),...c},Object.hasOwnProperty.call(l[e],"harvestCount")||Object.defineProperty(l[e],"harvestCount",{get:()=>++s});const r=(0,i.nY)(e);r&&(r.runtime=l[e])}},324:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{F3:()=>i,Xs:()=>o,xv:()=>n});const n="1.283.2",i="PROD",o="CDN"},154:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{OF:()=>c,RI:()=>i,WN:()=>l,bv:()=>o,gm:()=>a,mw:()=>s,sb:()=>u});var n=r(863);const i="undefined"!=typeof window&&!!window.document,o="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&("undefined"!=typeof self&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&self.navigator instanceof WorkerNavigator||"undefined"!=typeof globalThis&&globalThis instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&globalThis.navigator instanceof WorkerNavigator),a=i?window:"undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&("undefined"!=typeof self&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&self||"undefined"!=typeof globalThis&&globalThis instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&globalThis),s=Boolean("hidden"===a?.document?.visibilityState),c=/iPad|iPhone|iPod/.test(a.navigator?.userAgent),u=c&&"undefined"==typeof SharedWorker,l=((()=>{const e=a.navigator?.userAgent?.match(/Firefox[/\s](\d+\.\d+)/);Array.isArray(e)&&e.length>=2&&e[1]})(),Date.now()-(0,n.t)())},687:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{Ak:()=>c,Ze:()=>d,x3:()=>u});var n=r(836),i=r(606),o=r(860),a=r(646);const s={};function c(e,t){const r={staged:!1,priority:o.P3[t]||0};l(e),s[e].get(t)||s[e].set(t,r)}function u(e,t){e&&s[e]&&(s[e].get(t)&&s[e].delete(t),g(e,t,!1),s[e].size&&f(e))}function l(e){if(!e)throw new Error("agentIdentifier required");s[e]||(s[e]=new Map)}function d(e="",t="feature",r=!1){if(l(e),!e||!s[e].get(t)||r)return g(e,t);s[e].get(t).staged=!0,f(e)}function f(e){const t=Array.from(s[e]);t.every((([e,t])=>t.staged))&&(t.sort(((e,t)=>e[1].priority-t[1].priority)),t.forEach((([t])=>{s[e].delete(t),g(e,t)})))}function g(e,t,r=!0){const o=e?n.ee.get(e):n.ee,s=i.i.handlers;if(!o.aborted&&o.backlog&&s){if(r){const e=o.backlog[t],r=s[t];if(r){for(let t=0;e&&t<e.length;++t)p(e[t],r);Object.entries(r).forEach((([e,t])=>{Object.values(t||{}).forEach((t=>{t[0]?.on&&t[0]?.context()instanceof a.y&&t[0].on(e,t[1])}))}))}}o.isolatedBacklog||delete s[t],o.backlog[t]=null,o.emit("drain-"+t,[])}}function p(e,t){var r=e[1];Object.values(t[r]||{}).forEach((t=>{var r=e[0];if(t[0]===r){var n=t[1],i=e[3],o=e[2];n.apply(i,o)}}))}},836:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{P:()=>c,ee:()=>u});var n=r(384),i=r(990),o=r(371),a=r(646),s=r(607);const c="nr@context:".concat(s.W),u=function e(t,r){var n={},s={},l={},d=!1;try{d=16===r.length&&(0,o.f)(r).isolatedBacklog}catch(e){}var f={on:p,addEventListener:p,removeEventListener:function(e,t){var r=n[e];if(!r)return;for(var i=0;i<r.length;i++)r[i]===t&&r.splice(i,1)},emit:function(e,r,n,i,o){!1!==o&&(o=!0);if(u.aborted&&!i)return;t&&o&&t.emit(e,r,n);for(var a=g(n),c=m(e),l=c.length,d=0;d<l;d++)c[d].apply(a,r);var p=v()[s[e]];p&&p.push([f,e,r,a]);return a},get:h,listeners:m,context:g,buffer:function(e,t){const r=v();if(t=t||"feature",f.aborted)return;Object.entries(e||{}).forEach((([e,n])=>{s[n]=t,t in r||(r[t]=[])}))},abort:function(){f._aborted=!0,Object.keys(f.backlog).forEach((e=>{delete f.backlog[e]}))},isBuffering:function(e){return!!v()[s[e]]},debugId:r,backlog:d?{}:t&&"object"==typeof t.backlog?t.backlog:{},isolatedBacklog:d};return Object.defineProperty(f,"aborted",{get:()=>{let e=f._aborted||!1;return e||(t&&(e=t.aborted),e)}}),f;function g(e){return e&&e instanceof a.y?e:e?(0,i.I)(e,c,(()=>new a.y(c))):new a.y(c)}function p(e,t){n[e]=m(e).concat(t)}function m(e){return n[e]||[]}function h(t){return l[t]=l[t]||e(f,t)}function v(){return f.backlog}}(void 0,"globalEE"),l=(0,n.Zm)();l.ee||(l.ee=u)},646:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{y:()=>n});class n{constructor(e){this.contextId=e}}},908:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{d:()=>n,p:()=>i});var n=r(836).ee.get("handle");function i(e,t,r,i,o){o?(o.buffer([e],i),o.emit(e,t,r)):(n.buffer([e],i),n.emit(e,t,r))}},606:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{i:()=>o});var n=r(908);o.on=a;var i=o.handlers={};function o(e,t,r,o){a(o||n.d,i,e,t,r)}function a(e,t,r,i,o){o||(o="feature"),e||(e=n.d);var a=t[o]=t[o]||{};(a[r]=a[r]||[]).push([e,i])}},878:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t){return{capture:e,passive:!1,signal:t}}function i(e,t,r=!1,i){window.addEventListener(e,t,n(r,i))}function o(e,t,r=!1,i){document.addEventListener(e,t,n(r,i))}r.d(t,{DD:()=>o,jT:()=>n,sp:()=>i})},607:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{W:()=>n});const n=(0,r(566).bz)()},566:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{LA:()=>s,bz:()=>a});var n=r(154);const i="xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx";function o(e,t){return e?15&e[t]:16*Math.random()|0}function a(){const e=n.gm?.crypto||n.gm?.msCrypto;let t,r=0;return e&&e.getRandomValues&&(t=e.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(30))),i.split("").map((e=>"x"===e?o(t,r++).toString(16):"y"===e?(3&o()|8).toString(16):e)).join("")}function s(e){const t=n.gm?.crypto||n.gm?.msCrypto;let r,i=0;t&&t.getRandomValues&&(r=t.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(e)));const a=[];for(var s=0;s<e;s++)a.push(o(r,i++).toString(16));return a.join("")}},614:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{BB:()=>a,H3:()=>n,g:()=>u,iL:()=>c,tS:()=>s,uh:()=>i,wk:()=>o});const n="NRBA",i="SESSION",o=144e5,a=18e5,s={STARTED:"session-started",PAUSE:"session-pause",RESET:"session-reset",RESUME:"session-resume",UPDATE:"session-update"},c={SAME_TAB:"same-tab",CROSS_TAB:"cross-tab"},u={OFF:0,FULL:1,ERROR:2}},863:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(){return Math.floor(performance.now())}r.d(t,{t:()=>n})},944:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t){"function"==typeof console.debug&&console.debug("New Relic Warning: https://github.com/newrelic/newrelic-browser-agent/blob/main/docs/warning-codes.md#".concat(e),t)}r.d(t,{R:()=>n})},284:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{t:()=>c,B:()=>s});var n=r(836),i=r(154);const o="newrelic";const a=new Set,s={};function c(e,t){const r=n.ee.get(t);s[t]??={},e&&"object"==typeof e&&(a.has(t)||(r.emit("rumresp",[e]),s[t]=e,a.add(t),function(e={}){try{i.gm.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent(o,{detail:e}))}catch(e){}}({loaded:!0})))}},990:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{I:()=>i});var n=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;function i(e,t,r){if(n.call(e,t))return e[t];var i=r();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,t,{value:i,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),i}catch(e){}return e[t]=i,i}},389:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";function n(e,t=500,r={}){const n=r?.leading||!1;let i;return(...r)=>{n&&void 0===i&&(e.apply(this,r),i=setTimeout((()=>{i=clearTimeout(i)}),t)),n||(clearTimeout(i),i=setTimeout((()=>{e.apply(this,r)}),t))}}function i(e){let t=!1;return(...r)=>{t||(t=!0,e.apply(this,r))}}r.d(t,{J:()=>i,s:()=>n})},289:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{GG:()=>o,sB:()=>a});var n=r(878);function i(){return"undefined"==typeof document||"complete"===document.readyState}function o(e,t){if(i())return e();(0,n.sp)("load",e,t)}function a(e){if(i())return e();(0,n.DD)("DOMContentLoaded",e)}},384:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{NT:()=>o,US:()=>l,Zm:()=>a,bQ:()=>c,dV:()=>s,nY:()=>u,pV:()=>d});var n=r(154),i=r(863);const o={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net"};function a(){return n.gm.NREUM||(n.gm.NREUM={}),void 0===n.gm.newrelic&&(n.gm.newrelic=n.gm.NREUM),n.gm.NREUM}function s(){let e=a();return e.o||(e.o={ST:n.gm.setTimeout,SI:n.gm.setImmediate,CT:n.gm.clearTimeout,XHR:n.gm.XMLHttpRequest,REQ:n.gm.Request,EV:n.gm.Event,PR:n.gm.Promise,MO:n.gm.MutationObserver,FETCH:n.gm.fetch,WS:n.gm.WebSocket}),e}function c(e,t){let r=a();r.initializedAgents??={},t.initializedAt={ms:(0,i.t)(),date:new Date},r.initializedAgents[e]=t}function u(e){let t=a();return t.initializedAgents?.[e]}function l(e,t){a()[e]=t}function d(){return function(){let e=a();const t=e.info||{};e.info={beacon:o.beacon,errorBeacon:o.errorBeacon,...t}}(),function(){let e=a();const t=e.init||{};e.init={...t}}(),s(),function(){let e=a();const t=e.loader_config||{};e.loader_config={...t}}(),a()}},843:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{u:()=>i});var n=r(878);function i(e,t=!1,r,i){(0,n.DD)("visibilitychange",(function(){if(t)return void("hidden"===document.visibilityState&&e());e(document.visibilityState)}),r,i)}},434:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{Jt:()=>o,YM:()=>c});var n=r(836),i=r(607);const o="nr@original:".concat(i.W);var a=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty,s=!1;function c(e,t){return e||(e=n.ee),r.inPlace=function(e,t,n,i,o){n||(n="");const a="-"===n.charAt(0);for(let s=0;s<t.length;s++){const c=t[s],u=e[c];l(u)||(e[c]=r(u,a?c+n:n,i,c,o))}},r.flag=o,r;function r(t,r,n,s,c){return l(t)?t:(r||(r=""),nrWrapper[o]=t,function(e,t,r){if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.keys(e).forEach((function(r){Object.defineProperty(t,r,{get:function(){return e[r]},set:function(t){return e[r]=t,t}})})),t}catch(e){u([e],r)}for(var n in e)a.call(e,n)&&(t[n]=e[n])}(t,nrWrapper,e),nrWrapper);function nrWrapper(){var o,a,l,d;try{a=this,o=[...arguments],l="function"==typeof n?n(o,a):n||{}}catch(t){u([t,"",[o,a,s],l],e)}i(r+"start",[o,a,s],l,c);try{return d=t.apply(a,o)}catch(e){throw i(r+"err",[o,a,e],l,c),e}finally{i(r+"end",[o,a,d],l,c)}}}function i(r,n,i,o){if(!s||t){var a=s;s=!0;try{e.emit(r,n,i,t,o)}catch(t){u([t,r,n,i],e)}s=a}}}function u(e,t){t||(t=n.ee);try{t.emit("internal-error",e)}catch(e){}}function l(e){return!(e&&"function"==typeof e&&e.apply&&!e[o])}},993:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{A$:()=>o,ET:()=>a,p_:()=>i});var n=r(860);const i={ERROR:"ERROR",WARN:"WARN",INFO:"INFO",DEBUG:"DEBUG",TRACE:"TRACE"},o={OFF:0,ERROR:1,WARN:2,INFO:3,DEBUG:4,TRACE:5},a="log";n.K7.logging},773:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{z_:()=>o,XG:()=>s,TZ:()=>n,rs:()=>i,xV:()=>a});r(154),r(566),r(384);const n=r(860).K7.metrics,i="sm",o="cm",a="storeSupportabilityMetrics",s="storeEventMetrics"},630:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{T:()=>n});const n=r(860).K7.pageViewEvent},782:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{T:()=>n});const n=r(860).K7.pageViewTiming},344:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{G4:()=>i});var n=r(614);r(860).K7.sessionReplay;const i={RECORD:"recordReplay",PAUSE:"pauseReplay",REPLAY_RUNNING:"replayRunning",ERROR_DURING_REPLAY:"errorDuringReplay"};n.g.ERROR,n.g.FULL,n.g.OFF},234:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{W:()=>o});var n=r(836),i=r(687);class o{constructor(e,t){this.agentIdentifier=e,this.ee=n.ee.get(e),this.featureName=t,this.blocked=!1}deregisterDrain(){(0,i.x3)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName)}}},603:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{j:()=>K});var n=r(860),i=r(555),o=r(371),a=r(908),s=r(836),c=r(687),u=r(289),l=r(154),d=r(944),f=r(773),g=r(384),p=r(344);const m=["setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","addRelease","recordCustomEvent","addPageAction","setCurrentRouteName","setPageViewName","setCustomAttribute","interaction","noticeError","setUserId","setApplicationVersion","start",p.G4.RECORD,p.G4.PAUSE,"log","wrapLogger"],h=["setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","addRelease"];var v=r(863),b=r(614),y=r(993);var w=r(646),R=r(434);const A=new Map;function E(e,t,r,n){if("object"!=typeof t||!t||"string"!=typeof r||!r||"function"!=typeof t[r])return(0,d.R)(29);const i=function(e){return(e||s.ee).get("logger")}(e),o=(0,R.YM)(i),a=new w.y(s.P);a.level=n.level,a.customAttributes=n.customAttributes;const c=t[r]?.[R.Jt]||t[r];return A.set(c,a),o.inPlace(t,[r],"wrap-logger-",(()=>A.get(c))),i}function _(){const e=(0,g.pV)();m.forEach((t=>{e[t]=(...r)=>function(t,...r){let n=[];return Object.values(e.initializedAgents).forEach((e=>{e&&e.api?e.exposed&&e.api[t]&&n.push(e.api[t](...r)):(0,d.R)(38,t)})),n.length>1?n:n[0]}(t,...r)}))}const x={};function N(e,t,g=!1){t||(0,c.Ak)(e,"api");const m={};var w=s.ee.get(e),R=w.get("tracer");x[e]=b.g.OFF,w.on(p.G4.REPLAY_RUNNING,(t=>{x[e]=t}));var A="api-",_=A+"ixn-";function N(t,r,n,o){const a=(0,i.Vp)(e);return null===r?delete a.jsAttributes[t]:(0,i.x1)(e,{...a,jsAttributes:{...a.jsAttributes,[t]:r}}),j(A,n,!0,o||null===r?"session":void 0)(t,r)}function k(){}m.log=function(e,{customAttributes:t={},level:r=y.p_.INFO}={}){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/log/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),function(e,t,r={},i=y.p_.INFO){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/logging/".concat(i.toLowerCase(),"/called")],void 0,n.K7.metrics,e),(0,a.p)(y.ET,[(0,v.t)(),t,r,i],void 0,n.K7.logging,e)}(w,e,t,r)},m.wrapLogger=(e,t,{customAttributes:r={},level:i=y.p_.INFO}={})=>{(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/wrapLogger/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),E(w,e,t,{customAttributes:r,level:i})},h.forEach((e=>{m[e]=j(A,e,!0,"api")})),m.addPageAction=j(A,"addPageAction",!0,n.K7.genericEvents),m.recordCustomEvent=j(A,"recordCustomEvent",!0,n.K7.genericEvents),m.setPageViewName=function(t,r){if("string"==typeof t)return"/"!==t.charAt(0)&&(t="/"+t),(0,o.f)(e).customTransaction=(r||"http://custom.transaction")+t,j(A,"setPageViewName",!0)()},m.setCustomAttribute=function(e,t,r=!1){if("string"==typeof e){if(["string","number","boolean"].includes(typeof t)||null===t)return N(e,t,"setCustomAttribute",r);(0,d.R)(40,typeof t)}else(0,d.R)(39,typeof e)},m.setUserId=function(e){if("string"==typeof e||null===e)return N("enduser.id",e,"setUserId",!0);(0,d.R)(41,typeof e)},m.setApplicationVersion=function(e){if("string"==typeof e||null===e)return N("application.version",e,"setApplicationVersion",!1);(0,d.R)(42,typeof e)},m.start=()=>{try{(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/start/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),w.emit("manual-start-all")}catch(e){(0,d.R)(23,e)}},m[p.G4.RECORD]=function(){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/recordReplay/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)(p.G4.RECORD,[],void 0,n.K7.sessionReplay,w)},m[p.G4.PAUSE]=function(){(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/pauseReplay/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)(p.G4.PAUSE,[],void 0,n.K7.sessionReplay,w)},m.interaction=function(e){return(new k).get("object"==typeof e?e:{})};const T=k.prototype={createTracer:function(e,t){var r={},i=this,o="function"==typeof t;return(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/createTracer/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),g||(0,a.p)(_+"tracer",[(0,v.t)(),e,r],i,n.K7.spa,w),function(){if(R.emit((o?"":"no-")+"fn-start",[(0,v.t)(),i,o],r),o)try{return t.apply(this,arguments)}catch(e){const t="string"==typeof e?new Error(e):e;throw R.emit("fn-err",[arguments,this,t],r),t}finally{R.emit("fn-end",[(0,v.t)()],r)}}}};function j(e,t,r,i){return function(){return(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/"+t+"/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),i&&(0,a.p)(e+t,[r?(0,v.t)():performance.now(),...arguments],r?null:this,i,w),r?void 0:this}}function I(){r.e(296).then(r.bind(r,778)).then((({setAPI:t})=>{t(e),(0,c.Ze)(e,"api")})).catch((e=>{(0,d.R)(27,e),w.abort()}))}return["actionText","setName","setAttribute","save","ignore","onEnd","getContext","end","get"].forEach((e=>{T[e]=j(_,e,void 0,g?n.K7.softNav:n.K7.spa)})),m.setCurrentRouteName=g?j(_,"routeName",void 0,n.K7.softNav):j(A,"routeName",!0,n.K7.spa),m.noticeError=function(t,r){"string"==typeof t&&(t=new Error(t)),(0,a.p)(f.xV,["API/noticeError/called"],void 0,n.K7.metrics,w),(0,a.p)("err",[t,(0,v.t)(),!1,r,!!x[e]],void 0,n.K7.jserrors,w)},l.RI?(0,u.GG)((()=>I()),!0):I(),m}var k=r(217),T=r(122);const j={accountID:void 0,trustKey:void 0,agentID:void 0,licenseKey:void 0,applicationID:void 0,xpid:void 0},I={};var O=r(284);const S=e=>{const t=e.startsWith("http");e+="/",r.p=t?e:"https://"+e};let P=!1;function K(e,t={},r,n){let{init:a,info:c,loader_config:u,runtime:d={},exposed:f=!0}=t;d.loaderType=r;const p=(0,g.pV)();c||(a=p.init,c=p.info,u=p.loader_config),(0,k.xN)(e.agentIdentifier,a||{}),function(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All loader-config objects require an agent identifier!");I[e]=(0,T.a)(t,j);const r=(0,g.nY)(e);r&&(r.loader_config=I[e])}(e.agentIdentifier,u||{}),c.jsAttributes??={},l.bv&&(c.jsAttributes.isWorker=!0),(0,i.x1)(e.agentIdentifier,c);const m=(0,k.D0)(e.agentIdentifier),h=[c.beacon,c.errorBeacon];P||(m.proxy.assets&&(S(m.proxy.assets),h.push(m.proxy.assets)),m.proxy.beacon&&h.push(m.proxy.beacon),_(),(0,g.US)("activatedFeatures",O.B),e.runSoftNavOverSpa&&=!0===m.soft_navigations.enabled&&m.feature_flags.includes("soft_nav")),d.denyList=[...m.ajax.deny_list||[],...m.ajax.block_internal?h:[]],d.ptid=e.agentIdentifier,(0,o.V)(e.agentIdentifier,d),e.ee=s.ee.get(e.agentIdentifier),void 0===e.api&&(e.api=N(e.agentIdentifier,n,e.runSoftNavOverSpa)),void 0===e.exposed&&(e.exposed=f),P=!0}},374:(e,t,r)=>{r.nc=(()=>{try{return document?.currentScript?.nonce}catch(e){}return""})()},860:(e,t,r)=>{"use strict";r.d(t,{$J:()=>u,K7:()=>s,P3:()=>c,XX:()=>i,qY:()=>n,v4:()=>a});const n="events",i="jserrors",o="browser/blobs",a="rum",s={ajax:"ajax",genericEvents:"generic_events",jserrors:i,logging:"logging",metrics:"metrics",pageAction:"page_action",pageViewEvent:"page_view_event",pageViewTiming:"page_view_timing",sessionReplay:"session_replay",sessionTrace:"session_trace",softNav:"soft_navigations",spa:"spa"},c={[s.pageViewEvent]:1,[s.pageViewTiming]:2,[s.metrics]:3,[s.jserrors]:4,[s.spa]:5,[s.ajax]:6,[s.sessionTrace]:7,[s.softNav]:8,[s.sessionReplay]:9,[s.logging]:10,[s.genericEvents]:11},u={[s.pageViewEvent]:a,[s.pageViewTiming]:n,[s.ajax]:n,[s.spa]:n,[s.softNav]:n,[s.metrics]:i,[s.jserrors]:i,[s.sessionTrace]:o,[s.sessionReplay]:o,[s.logging]:"browser/logs",[s.genericEvents]:"ins"}}},n={};function i(e){var t=n[e];if(void 0!==t)return t.exports;var o=n[e]={exports:{}};return r[e](o,o.exports,i),o.exports}i.m=r,i.d=(e,t)=>{for(var r in t)i.o(t,r)&&!i.o(e,r)&&Object.defineProperty(e,r,{enumerable:!0,get:t[r]})},i.f={},i.e=e=>Promise.all(Object.keys(i.f).reduce(((t,r)=>(i.f[r](e,t),t)),[])),i.u=e=>"nr-rum-1.283.2.min.js",i.o=(e,t)=>Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(e,t),e={},t="NRBA-1.283.2.PROD:",i.l=(r,n,o,a)=>{if(e[r])e[r].push(n);else{var s,c;if(void 0!==o)for(var u=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),l=0;l<u.length;l++){var d=u[l];if(d.getAttribute("src")==r||d.getAttribute("data-webpack")==t+o){s=d;break}}if(!s){c=!0;var f={296:"sha512-2Y8GMAOGF658KnXzOZ/v+DlLch8TBFvV0tTNnOy9wrpvtDa1t5CdZMyX+LubTymBlzPp6NUjllBghMCZqXBPmg=="};(s=document.createElement("script")).charset="utf-8",s.timeout=120,i.nc&&s.setAttribute("nonce",i.nc),s.setAttribute("data-webpack",t+o),s.src=r,0!==s.src.indexOf(window.location.origin+"/")&&(s.crossOrigin="anonymous"),f[a]&&(s.integrity=f[a])}e[r]=[n];var g=(t,n)=>{s.onerror=s.onload=null,clearTimeout(p);var i=e[r];if(delete e[r],s.parentNode&&s.parentNode.removeChild(s),i&&i.forEach((e=>e(n))),t)return t(n)},p=setTimeout(g.bind(null,void 0,{type:"timeout",target:s}),12e4);s.onerror=g.bind(null,s.onerror),s.onload=g.bind(null,s.onload),c&&document.head.appendChild(s)}},i.r=e=>{"undefined"!=typeof Symbol&&Symbol.toStringTag&&Object.defineProperty(e,Symbol.toStringTag,{value:"Module"}),Object.defineProperty(e,"__esModule",{value:!0})},i.p="https://js-agent.newrelic.com/",(()=>{var e={374:0,840:0};i.f.j=(t,r)=>{var n=i.o(e,t)?e[t]:void 0;if(0!==n)if(n)r.push(n[2]);else{var o=new Promise(((r,i)=>n=e[t]=[r,i]));r.push(n[2]=o);var a=i.p+i.u(t),s=new Error;i.l(a,(r=>{if(i.o(e,t)&&(0!==(n=e[t])&&(e[t]=void 0),n)){var o=r&&("load"===r.type?"missing":r.type),a=r&&r.target&&r.target.src;s.message="Loading chunk "+t+" failed.\n("+o+": "+a+")",s.name="ChunkLoadError",s.type=o,s.request=a,n[1](s)}}),"chunk-"+t,t)}};var t=(t,r)=>{var n,o,[a,s,c]=r,u=0;if(a.some((t=>0!==e[t]))){for(n in s)i.o(s,n)&&(i.m[n]=s[n]);if(c)c(i)}for(t&&t(r);u<a.length;u++)o=a[u],i.o(e,o)&&e[o]&&e[o][0](),e[o]=0},r=self["webpackChunk:NRBA-1.283.2.PROD"]=self["webpackChunk:NRBA-1.283.2.PROD"]||[];r.forEach(t.bind(null,0)),r.push=t.bind(null,r.push.bind(r))})(),(()=>{"use strict";i(374);var e=i(944),t=i(344),r=i(566);class n{agentIdentifier;constructor(){this.agentIdentifier=(0,r.LA)(16)}#e(t,...r){if("function"==typeof this.api?.[t])return this.api[t](...r);(0,e.R)(35,t)}addPageAction(e,t){return this.#e("addPageAction",e,t)}recordCustomEvent(e,t){return this.#e("recordCustomEvent",e,t)}setPageViewName(e,t){return this.#e("setPageViewName",e,t)}setCustomAttribute(e,t,r){return this.#e("setCustomAttribute",e,t,r)}noticeError(e,t){return this.#e("noticeError",e,t)}setUserId(e){return this.#e("setUserId",e)}setApplicationVersion(e){return this.#e("setApplicationVersion",e)}setErrorHandler(e){return this.#e("setErrorHandler",e)}addRelease(e,t){return this.#e("addRelease",e,t)}log(e,t){return this.#e("log",e,t)}}class o extends n{#e(t,...r){if("function"==typeof this.api?.[t])return this.api[t](...r);(0,e.R)(35,t)}start(){return this.#e("start")}finished(e){return this.#e("finished",e)}recordReplay(){return this.#e(t.G4.RECORD)}pauseReplay(){return this.#e(t.G4.PAUSE)}addToTrace(e){return this.#e("addToTrace",e)}setCurrentRouteName(e){return this.#e("setCurrentRouteName",e)}interaction(){return this.#e("interaction")}wrapLogger(e,t,r){return this.#e("wrapLogger",e,t,r)}}var a=i(860),s=i(217);const c=Object.values(a.K7);function u(e){const t={};return c.forEach((r=>{t[r]=function(e,t){return!0===(0,s.gD)(t,"".concat(e,".enabled"))}(r,e)})),t}var l=i(603);var d=i(687),f=i(234),g=i(289),p=i(154),m=i(384);const h=e=>p.RI&&!0===(0,s.gD)(e,"privacy.cookies_enabled");function v(e){return!!(0,m.dV)().o.MO&&h(e)&&!0===(0,s.gD)(e,"session_trace.enabled")}var b=i(389);class y extends f.W{constructor(e,t,r=!0){super(e.agentIdentifier,t),this.auto=r,this.abortHandler=void 0,this.featAggregate=void 0,this.onAggregateImported=void 0,!1===e.init[this.featureName].autoStart&&(this.auto=!1),this.auto?(0,d.Ak)(e.agentIdentifier,t):this.ee.on("manual-start-all",(0,b.J)((()=>{(0,d.Ak)(e.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),this.auto=!0,this.importAggregator(e)})))}importAggregator(t,r={}){if(this.featAggregate||!this.auto)return;let n;this.onAggregateImported=new Promise((e=>{n=e}));const o=async()=>{let o;try{if(h(this.agentIdentifier)){const{setupAgentSession:e}=await i.e(296).then(i.bind(i,861));o=e(t)}}catch(t){(0,e.R)(20,t),this.ee.emit("internal-error",[t]),this.featureName===a.K7.sessionReplay&&this.abortHandler?.()}try{if(!this.#t(this.featureName,o))return(0,d.Ze)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),void n(!1);const{lazyFeatureLoader:e}=await i.e(296).then(i.bind(i,103)),{Aggregate:a}=await e(this.featureName,"aggregate");this.featAggregate=new a(t,r),t.runtime.harvester.initializedAggregates.push(this.featAggregate),n(!0)}catch(t){(0,e.R)(34,t),this.abortHandler?.(),(0,d.Ze)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName,!0),n(!1),this.ee&&this.ee.abort()}};p.RI?(0,g.GG)((()=>o()),!0):o()}#t(e,t){switch(e){case a.K7.sessionReplay:return v(this.agentIdentifier)&&!!t;case a.K7.sessionTrace:return!!t;default:return!0}}}var w=i(630);class R extends y{static featureName=w.T;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,w.T,t),this.importAggregator(e)}}var A=i(908),E=i(843),_=i(878),x=i(782),N=i(863);class k extends y{static featureName=x.T;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,x.T,t),p.RI&&((0,E.u)((()=>(0,A.p)("docHidden",[(0,N.t)()],void 0,x.T,this.ee)),!0),(0,_.sp)("pagehide",(()=>(0,A.p)("winPagehide",[(0,N.t)()],void 0,x.T,this.ee))),this.importAggregator(e))}}var T=i(773);class j extends y{static featureName=T.TZ;constructor(e,t=!0){super(e,T.TZ,t),this.importAggregator(e)}}new class extends o{constructor(t){super(),p.gm?(this.features={},(0,m.bQ)(this.agentIdentifier,this),this.desiredFeatures=new Set(t.features||[]),this.desiredFeatures.add(R),this.runSoftNavOverSpa=[...this.desiredFeatures].some((e=>e.featureName===a.K7.softNav)),(0,l.j)(this,t,t.loaderType||"agent"),this.run()):(0,e.R)(21)}get config(){return{info:this.info,init:this.init,loader_config:this.loader_config,runtime:this.runtime}}run(){try{const t=u(this.agentIdentifier),r=[...this.desiredFeatures];r.sort(((e,t)=>a.P3[e.featureName]-a.P3[t.featureName])),r.forEach((r=>{if(!t[r.featureName]&&r.featureName!==a.K7.pageViewEvent)return;if(this.runSoftNavOverSpa&&r.featureName===a.K7.spa)return;if(!this.runSoftNavOverSpa&&r.featureName===a.K7.softNav)return;const n=function(e){switch(e){case a.K7.ajax:return[a.K7.jserrors];case a.K7.sessionTrace:return[a.K7.ajax,a.K7.pageViewEvent];case a.K7.sessionReplay:return[a.K7.sessionTrace];case a.K7.pageViewTiming:return[a.K7.pageViewEvent];default:return[]}}(r.featureName).filter((e=>!(e in this.features)));n.length>0&&(0,e.R)(36,{targetFeature:r.featureName,missingDependencies:n}),this.features[r.featureName]=new r(this)}))}catch(t){(0,e.R)(22,t);for(const e in this.features)this.features[e].abortHandler?.();const r=(0,m.Zm)();delete r.initializedAgents[this.agentIdentifier]?.api,delete r.initializedAgents[this.agentIdentifier]?.features,delete this.sharedAggregator;return r.ee.get(this.agentIdentifier).abort(),!1}}}({features:[R,k,j],loaderType:"lite"})})()})();</script>
<noscript><style>form.antibot * :not(.antibot-message) { display: none !important; }</style>
</noscript><script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-HEQ0YF2VYL"></script>
<script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments)};gtag("js", new Date());gtag("set", "developer_id.dMDhkMT", true);gtag('set', {'cookie_flags': 'SameSite=None;Secure', 'cookie_domain': 'www.nist.gov'});gtag("config", "G-HEQ0YF2VYL", {"groups":"default","page_placeholder":"PLACEHOLDER_page_location","link_attribution":true,"allow_ad_personalization_signals":false});gtag("config", "G-CSLL4ZEK4L", {"groups":"default","page_placeholder":"PLACEHOLDER_page_location","link_attribution":true,"allow_ad_personalization_signals":false});gtag("event", "custom", {"node_title":"A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts","node_id":"1246686","blog_author":"Brian Simonds","content_type":"Blog entry"});</script>
<meta name="description" content="Welding is said to be more art than science. In part, this is a nod to the vital, skilled work that welders perform" />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts" />
<link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.nist.gov/node/1246686" />
<meta name="citation_title" content="A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts | NIST" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="NIST" />
<meta property="og:type" content="Article" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts" />
<meta property="og:title" content="A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts" />
<meta property="og:description" content="Welding is said to be more art than science. In part, this is a nod to the vital, skilled work that welders perform" />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/social/public/images/2018/04/27/classic_sparks_960x600.jpg?itok=oox-gJAH" />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.nist.gov/themes/custom/nist_www/img/homepage/nist_mark.png" />
<meta property="og:image:width" content="960" />
<meta property="og:image:height" content="600" />
<meta property="og:image:alt" content="a laser cuts through a pipe" />
<meta property="article:author" content="Brian Simonds" />
<meta property="article:published_time" content="2016-11-07T07:00-05:00" />
<meta property="article:modified_time" content="2025-01-24T09:32-05:00" />
<meta name="dcterms.title" content="A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts" />
<meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Brian Simonds" />
<meta name="dcterms.description" content="Welding is said to be more art than science. In part, this is a nod to the vital, skilled work that welders perform" />
<meta name="dcterms.publisher" content="Brian Simonds" />
<meta name="dcterms.contributor" content="NIST" />
<meta name="dcterms.date" content="2016-11-07T07:00-05:00" />
<meta name="dcterms.type" content="text" />
<meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html" />
<meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts" />
<meta name="dcterms.source" content="NIST" />
<meta name="dcterms.created" content="2016-11-07T07:00-05:00" />
<meta name="dcterms.modified" content="2025-01-24T09:32-05:00" />
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Welding is said to be more art than science. In part, this is a nod to the vital, skilled work that welders perform" />
<meta name="twitter:site" content="NIST" />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts" />
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="QMu0ODkER3rN5hLcMLqNVf7e3bkjYsNLTuhqfH48jCA" />
<meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" />
<meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" />
<meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
<meta name="nist_search_modified" class="elastic" content="2025-01-24T09:32:00-05:00" />
<script type="application/ld+json">{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@type": "Article",
"@id": "https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts",
"headline": "A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts",
"name": "A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts",
"description": "Welding is said to be more art than science. In part, this is a nod to the vital, skilled work that welders perform.",
"image": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"url": "https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/social/public/images/2018/04/27/classic_sparks_960x600.jpg?itok=oox-gJAH",
"width": "960",
"height": "600"
},
"datePublished": "2016-11-07T07:00-05:00",
"dateModified": "2025-01-24T09:32-05:00",
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"@id": "https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/brian-simonds",
"name": "Brian Simonds",
"url": "https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/brian-simonds"
},
"publisher": {
"@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
"@id": "https://www.nist.gov/",
"name": "National Institute of Standards and Technology",
"url": "https://www.nist.gov/"
}
}
]
}</script>
<meta name="nist_search_bundle" class="elastic" content="blog" />
<link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/nist_www/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" />
<title>A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts | NIST</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_hKAD9a0878O1Pdb6alKtCmESLiUtQmrBX15rQUvSgOA.css?delta=0&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nist_www&amp;include=eJxNTgsOwyAIvZCpRzKotCNFaYTW9fazW5ctIYRH3i9CWoPJmM3H3x0oSXWV1II9sOD4CUdooUj2mRQiY2Cqq9NTDcvQKr75fmGJwB9t7_2L8WkX3-e2b8DTDd1B2NW_9zS8d75dCiyVZkpuJjZsPsFmNCqpJAIOBTPBFToYDKfsFkarJAe200vFJH8NCqUmSoYvWkVdRQ" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_kGS0ApDpFo-_3JI4Ijxg4RCWlTqsImK3lqH7bCv5v2U.css?delta=1&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nist_www&amp;include=eJxNTgsOwyAIvZCpRzKotCNFaYTW9fazW5ctIYRH3i9CWoPJmM3H3x0oSXWV1II9sOD4CUdooUj2mRQiY2Cqq9NTDcvQKr75fmGJwB9t7_2L8WkX3-e2b8DTDd1B2NW_9zS8d75dCiyVZkpuJjZsPsFmNCqpJAIOBTPBFToYDKfsFkarJAe200vFJH8NCqUmSoYvWkVdRQ" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_-IXwLuTUdm8IGHxib8GX8wWKw3LjKsNWSYYskZ5fEGg.css?delta=2&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nist_www&amp;include=eJxNTgsOwyAIvZCpRzKotCNFaYTW9fazW5ctIYRH3i9CWoPJmM3H3x0oSXWV1II9sOD4CUdooUj2mRQiY2Cqq9NTDcvQKr75fmGJwB9t7_2L8WkX3-e2b8DTDd1B2NW_9zS8d75dCiyVZkpuJjZsPsFmNCqpJAIOBTPBFToYDKfsFkarJAe200vFJH8NCqUmSoYvWkVdRQ" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_RS8YGnRq2Xi5aD-GQC3GKwBe6bOWBBmEmXrb2xB5FMM.css?delta=3&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nist_www&amp;include=eJxNTgsOwyAIvZCpRzKotCNFaYTW9fazW5ctIYRH3i9CWoPJmM3H3x0oSXWV1II9sOD4CUdooUj2mRQiY2Cqq9NTDcvQKr75fmGJwB9t7_2L8WkX3-e2b8DTDd1B2NW_9zS8d75dCiyVZkpuJjZsPsFmNCqpJAIOBTPBFToYDKfsFkarJAe200vFJH8NCqUmSoYvWkVdRQ" />
<script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_GM8kl6wk698qKTTwusj83bCoGHHtOZ1UinjY1sE_Qbk.js?scope=header&amp;delta=0&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nist_www&amp;include=eJxdjdEOwiAMRX9o2E9qyqhYBboAE_17YW7RLOGBc3p7a2l-YNX-FrC_P97L5FV9YKRE4V1lLnAWU5JS8SrdOW0pKDmsuZdI8uDpOy5SWeKS9clwFuPK5uqNI_e7GixljOrASSHbi4Okx5YBH9RSMPsK3Jgc5wOxtfaX4Fcdi-DyulC47DjNGiOneugdjX2bp3Dj_G2O5JNcZZ6GLHhf44I9t8LGZrAZ_AFBzXxL"></script>
</head>
<body class="node-1246686">
<a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable" data-elastic-exclude>
Skip to main content
</a>
<div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas>
<!-- nist-index-ignore-start -->
<section data-elastic-exclude class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official government website">
<div class="usa-accordion">
<header class="usa-banner__header">
<div class="usa-banner__inner">
<div class="grid-col-auto">
<img class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/us_flag_small.png" alt="U.S. flag">
</div>
<div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto">
<p class="usa-banner__header-text">An official website of the United States government</p>
<p class="usa-banner__header-action" aria-hidden="true">Heres how you know</p>
</div>
<button class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default">
<span class="usa-banner__button-text">Heres how you know</span>
</button>
</div>
</header>
<div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default">
<div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg">
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
<img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true">
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
<p>
<strong>Official websites use .gov</strong>
<br/>
A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
<img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true">
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
<p>
<strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong>
<br/>
A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock">
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewbox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-title banner-lock-description" focusable="false">
<title id="banner-lock-title">Lock</title>
<desc id="banner-lock-description">A locked padlock</desc><path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"/></svg>
</span>
) or <strong>https://</strong> means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<!-- nist-index-ignore-end -->
<div data-elastic-exclude>
<!-- nist-index-ignore-start -->
<div class="nist-print-header" style="display:none;">
<p class="nist-print-header__url">https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts</p>
<img class="nist-print-header__logo" width="289" height="38" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/nist_logo_sidestack.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology" />
</div>
<div class="usa-overlay"></div>
<header class="usa-header nist-header--www nist-header--minimal" role="banner">
<div class="usa-navbar">
<div class="usa-logo flex-fill">
<a href="/" title="National Institute of Standards and Technology" aria-label="Home">
<img src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/logo.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology" width="300px" height="80px" />
</a>
</div>
<div class="usa-header__right grid-row flex-auto">
<div class="grid-col-fill nist-header__search-group">
<form class="usa-search usa-search--small"
accept-charset="UTF-8"
action="/search"
id="search_form"
method="get">
<div role="search">
<label class="usa-sr-only" for="search-form">Search NIST</label>
<input class="usa-input" id="search-form" type="search" name="s" placeholder="Search NIST" required="" maxlength="128">
<button class="usa-button" type="submit"><img src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/usa-icons-bg/search--white.svg" class="usa-search__submit-icon" alt="Search"></button>
</div>
</form>
</div>
<div class="grid-col-auto padding-left-1">
<button class="usa-menu-btn">Menu</button>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<nav aria-label="Primary navigation" class="usa-nav">
<div class="usa-nav__inner">
<button class="usa-nav__close">Close</button>
<ul class="usa-nav__primary usa-accordion">
<li class="usa-nav__primary-item">
<a class="usa-nav__link" href="/publications">Publications</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__primary-item">
<button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-2"><span>What We Do</span></button>
<div id="primary_menu-2" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu">
<div class="grid-row">
<div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/topics" class="usa-nav__link">All Topics</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/advanced-communications" class="usa-nav__link">Advanced communications</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/artificial-intelligence" class="usa-nav__link">Artificial intelligence</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/bioscience" class="usa-nav__link">Bioscience</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/buildings-construction" class="usa-nav__link">Buildings and construction</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/chemistry" class="usa-nav__link">Chemistry</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/cybersecurity" class="usa-nav__link">Cybersecurity</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/electronics" class="usa-nav__link">Electronics</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/energy" class="usa-nav__link">Energy</a>
</li>
</ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/environment" class="usa-nav__link">Environment</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/fire" class="usa-nav__link">Fire</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/forensic-science" class="usa-nav__link">Forensic science</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/health" class="usa-nav__link">Health</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/information-technology" class="usa-nav__link">Information technology</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/infrastructure" class="usa-nav__link">Infrastructure</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/manufacturing" class="usa-nav__link">Manufacturing</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/materials" class="usa-nav__link">Materials</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/mathematics-statistics" class="usa-nav__link">Mathematics and statistics</a>
</li>
</ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/metrology" class="usa-nav__link">Metrology</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/nanotechnology" class="usa-nav__link">Nanotechnology</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/neutron-research" class="usa-nav__link">Neutron research</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/performance-excellence" class="usa-nav__link">Performance excellence</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/physics" class="usa-nav__link">Physics</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/public-safety" class="usa-nav__link">Public safety</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/quantum-information-science" class="usa-nav__link">Quantum information science</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/resilience" class="usa-nav__link">Resilience</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/standards" class="usa-nav__link">Standards</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/transportation" class="usa-nav__link">Transportation</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__primary-item">
<button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-3"><span>Labs &amp; Major Programs</span></button>
<div id="primary_menu-3" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu">
<div class="grid-row">
<div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/adlp" class="usa-nav__link">Assoc Director of Laboratory Programs</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/laboratories" class="usa-nav__link">Laboratories</a>
<ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li>
<a href="/ctl" class="usa-nav__link">Communications Technology Laboratory</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/el" class="usa-nav__link">Engineering Laboratory</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/itl" class="usa-nav__link">Information Technology Laboratory</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/mml" class="usa-nav__link">Material Measurement Laboratory</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/pml" class="usa-nav__link">Physical Measurement Laboratory</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/user-facilities" class="usa-nav__link">User Facilities</a>
<ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li>
<a href="/ncnr" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Center for Neutron Research</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/cnst" class="usa-nav__link">CNST NanoFab</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/labs-major-programs/research-test-beds" class="usa-nav__link">Research Test Beds</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/laboratories/projects-programs" class="usa-nav__link">Research Projects</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/laboratories/tools-instruments" class="usa-nav__link">Tools &amp; Instruments</a>
</li>
</ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/major-programs" class="usa-nav__link">Major Programs</a>
<ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li>
<a href="/baldrige" class="usa-nav__link">Baldrige Performance Excellence Program</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/chips" class="usa-nav__link">CHIPS for America Initiative</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/mep" class="usa-nav__link">Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/oam" class="usa-nav__link">Office of Advanced Manufacturing</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/spo" class="usa-nav__link">Special Programs Office</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/tpo" class="usa-nav__link">Technology Partnerships Office</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__primary-item">
<button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-4"><span>Services &amp; Resources</span></button>
<div id="primary_menu-4" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu">
<div class="grid-row">
<div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/content/standards-measurements" class="usa-nav__link">Standards and Measurements</a>
<ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li>
<a href="/calibrations" class="usa-nav__link">Calibration Services</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/nvlap" class="usa-nav__link">Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/nist-quality-system" class="usa-nav__link">Quality System</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/srm" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/sri" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Instruments (SRIs)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/standardsgov" class="usa-nav__link">Standards.gov</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-services" class="usa-nav__link">Time Services</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/pml/owm" class="usa-nav__link">Office of Weights and Measures</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/services-resources/software" class="usa-nav__link">Software</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/data" class="usa-nav__link">Data</a>
<ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li>
<a href="https://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/" class="usa-nav__link">Chemistry WebBook</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://nvd.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">National Vulnerability Database</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/pml/productsservices/physical-reference-data" class="usa-nav__link">Physical Reference Data</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/srd" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Data (SRD)</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="https://shop.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">Storefront</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/tpo" class="usa-nav__link">License &amp; Patents</a>
</li>
</ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="https://csrc.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC)</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/nist-research-library" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Research Library</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__primary-item">
<button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-5"><span>News &amp; Events</span></button>
<div id="primary_menu-5" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu">
<div class="grid-row">
<div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/news-events/news" class="usa-nav__link">News</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/news-events/events" class="usa-nav__link">Events</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/blogs" class="usa-nav__link">Blogs</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/feature-stories" class="usa-nav__link">Feature Stories</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/awards" class="usa-nav__link">Awards</a>
</li>
</ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/video-gallery" class="usa-nav__link">Video Gallery</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/image-gallery" class="usa-nav__link">Image Gallery</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/pao/media-contacts" class="usa-nav__link">Media Contacts</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__primary-item">
<button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-6"><span>About NIST</span></button>
<div id="primary_menu-6" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu">
<div class="grid-row">
<div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/about-nist" class="usa-nav__link">About Us</a>
<ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li>
<a href="/director/leadership" class="usa-nav__link">Leadership</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/director/nist-organization-structure" class="usa-nav__link">Organization Structure</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/about-nist/budget-planning" class="usa-nav__link">Budget &amp; Planning</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/about-nist/contact-us" class="usa-nav__link">Contact Us</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/about-nist/visit" class="usa-nav__link">Visit</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/careers" class="usa-nav__link">Careers</a>
<ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li>
<a href="/iaao/academic-affairs-office" class="usa-nav__link">Student programs</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/about-nist/work-nist" class="usa-nav__link">Work with NIST</a>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/history" class="usa-nav__link">History</a>
<ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list">
<li>
<a href="http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Digital Archives</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/nist-museum" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Museum</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/nist-and-nobel" class="usa-nav__link">NIST and the Nobel</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="usa-nav__submenu-item">
<a href="/education" class="usa-nav__link">Educational Resources</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</nav>
</header>
<!-- nist-index-ignore-end -->
</div>
<div class="grid-container">
</div>
<div
id="block-nist-www-content" class="nist-block"
>
<section
class="nist-page__content usa-section clearfix"
>
<a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a>
<div
class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content-top-full"
>
<div
class="nist-block"
>
<div class="entity-reference">
<div class="nist-blog-header nist-blog-header--purple nist-blog-header--inner">
<div class="nist-blog-header__bkgrd">
<div class="nist-blog-header__main grid-container">
<div class="grid-row">
<h2 class="nist-blog-header__title">
<a href="/blogs/taking-measure"> Taking Measure
</a>
</h2>
<div class="nist-blog-header__tagline">
<p class="text">Just a Standard Blog</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="grid-container margin-top-4">
<div
class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content-top"
>
<div
class="nist-block"
>
<h1 class="nist-page__title">A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts</h1>
</div>
<div
class="font-body-md"
>
<div class="daterange"><time datetime="2016-11-07T12:00:00Z">November 7, 2016</time>
</div>
</div>
<div
class="nist-block"
>
<span>By: </span>
<a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/brian-simonds" hreflang="en">Brian Simonds</a>
</div>
<div
class="nist-block"
>
<!-- nist-index-ignore-start -->
<div data-elastic-exclude class="nist-block nist-social__wrapper">
<h2 class="nist-social__title">Share</h2>
<div class="social-media-sharing">
<div class="nist-social__wrapper--share">
<div>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts"
title="Facebook" class="nist-social nist-social--facebook-gray">
<span>Facebook</span>
</a>
</div>
<div>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts&amp;source=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts"
title="Linkedin" class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin-gray">
<span>Linkedin</span>
</a>
</div>
<div>
<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://x.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts&amp;status=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts"
title="X.com" class="nist-social nist-social--x-gray">
<span>X.com</span>
</a>
</div>
<div>
<a href="mailto:?subject=NIST.gov&amp;body=Check out this site https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts"
title="Email" class="nist-social nist-social--envelope-gray">
<span>Email</span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- nist-index-ignore-end -->
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="grid-container margin-top-4">
<div class="grid-row grid-gap-6">
<div
class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content tablet-lg:grid-col-8"
>
<div
class="nist-block"
>
<div class="text-with-summary">
<figure class="nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2018/04/27/classic_sparks_960x600.jpg?itok=M5wRJfEY" data-media-id="449516">
<img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/960_x_960_limit/public/images/2018/04/27/classic_sparks_960x600.jpg?itok=3jZN5OH_" width="960" height="600" alt="a laser cuts through a pipe " typeof="foaf:Image" />
<figcaption class="nist-image__caption">
<div data-caption-editable="true" class="nist-image__caption-content">
</div>
<div class="nist-image__credit">
<span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span>
B. Simonds/NIST
</div>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Welding is said to be more art than science. In part, this is a nod to the vital, skilled work that welders perform. Its also recognition of the fact that the physics of the process is really, really difficult to understand.</p>
<p>I joined a NIST project on laser welding about two years ago. Before this, I had studied materials for solar panels and had done some work in laser processing, but I had little interest in laser welding. What eventually drew me in, and what motivates me now, is just how complex laser welding is and the opportunity to contribute to the understanding of a process that is so intertwined with everyday life, yet so mysterious.</p>
<h2>Act I: Creating a Keyhole</h2>
<p><span>The obvious applications of welding are in the manufacturing of big things like cars and trains, but there are less obvious ones like the battery casing in your mobile phone or the metal stents used to reopen clogged arteries. It turns out that we can use laser welding in many of these manufacturing scenarios, and by doing so, we can realize numerous benefits. In some applications, the lasers tightly focused beam makes for better precision welds like those needed in biomedical devices, batteries, and nuclear containment vessels, but in most other cases using lasers is </span>just<span> good business.</span></p>
<figure class=" align-center nist-image--lightbox nist-image" role="group">
<div data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2018/04/27/laser_welding_730x300_v4.jpg?itok=d0T2UEcT" data-media-id="449551">
<img alt="laser cutting into metal surface" height="300" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/2018/04/27/laser_welding_730x300_v4.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="730">
</div>
<figcaption class="nist-image__caption">The laser welding process begins, as one might imagine when a laser is focused to the surface of a metal. Although the surface initially reflects most of the light, it absorbs enough to cause significant heating. This heating slightly changes the way the metal interacts with the light, which in turn causes more absorption and even more heating. Once the metal gets hot enough, it begins to melt and evaporate. The now-molten metal pool reacts to this evaporation by recoiling and creating a depression in the surface, like a trampoline reacting to a heavy load. When this depression is deep enough, it sends some of the reflected light back onto itself, which increases the absorbed light, creating more melting, generating more evaporation, making a deeper depression, creating more absorption, then more melting, and so on. This continues until all the light is absorbed and a deep hole, called a keyhole, forms. In cross-section, this looks something like a molten metal tornado with a hollow cavity surrounded by a turbulent funnel of very hot liquid. This all happens within the first few milliseconds.<div class="nist-image__credit">
<span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span>
B. Simonds/NIST
</div></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For instance, most of a lasers energy goes into making the weld itself, with very little wasted on heating the surrounding area. Less waste means lower utility bills. Also, the latest laser technology is based on fiber-optics, which we can mount directly to manufacturing robots, speeding up production lines and increasing manufacturing throughput. Recent studies also show that the ecological footprint of laser welding over traditional welding is <a href="http://publica.fraunhofer.de/documents/N-189882.html">significantly smaller</a> both in terms of resources needed and hazardous waste produced.</p>
<p>Being a former solar-cell guy, I find this benefit particularly motivating.</p>
<h2>Act II: A Tornado of Molten Metal</h2>
<p>Industry chooses metal alloys to suit a particular application based on its requirements for strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, etc. Interestingly, many properties of steels are owed not to the iron, but to the small amounts (often a fraction of one percent of the total) of other elements like carbon, phosphorus, silicon and zinc. Like a chef tweaking the taste of a soup with spices, a metallurgist tunes a metals properties by sprinkling in small amounts of these elements. However, the dynamic process of laser welding can alter the flavor by throwing out more of some elements than others. This can leave you with a welded region that “tastes” slightly different than the surrounding un-welded regions. This mismatch in properties can lead to cracking, fatigue, stress or corrosion.</p>
<p>In other words, a bad weld.</p>
<figure class=" align-center nist-image--lightbox nist-image" role="group">
<div data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2018/04/27/laser_welding_act_ii_730x300_v3.jpg?itok=VZs0wbIL" data-media-id="449556">
<img alt="illustration of a hot cloud of molten metal rising above the laser as it penetrates the metal surface" height="300" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/2018/04/27/laser_welding_act_ii_730x300_v3.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="730">
</div>
<figcaption class="nist-image__caption">Due to the chaos below, a hot cloud forms above the surface of our molten metal tornado. This cloud is made up of four different states of matter: solid particles, liquid droplets, a hot gas, and even a bit of plasma. Each of these states of matter interacts with the molten surface and the incoming light in its own special way.<div class="nist-image__credit">
<span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span>
B. Simonds/NIST
</div></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>What I do is measure the trace alloying elements as they are flung out of the tornado. I find them using a process a little like the Bunsen burner experiments you might have done in high school chemistry. If you recall, you put a “mystery” substance into a flame and discovered its identity by observing the colors of light it gave off on a special viewer. In my case though, Im choosing to make some colors brighter by selectively targeting elements with a second specially tuned laser that shoots through the weld plume. This technique causes those trace elements to generate more light, which allows me to see elements that would otherwise be too faint.</p>
<p><span>In order to study the resulting weld quality, we have to take the weld apart and look at it. To do this, we turn to our project partners at NISTs <a href="https://www.nist.gov/mml">Material Measurement Laboratory</a>. There they have the capability to dissect a weld to look for cracks and defects. Using an array of atomic-scale imaging techniques, materials research engineer <a href="https://www.nist.gov/people/ann-chiaramonti-debay">Ann Debay Chiaramonti</a> in the <a href="https://www.nist.gov/mml/acmd/nanoscale-reliability-group">Nanoscale Reliability Group</a> can see how the weld process displaced individual atoms. Metallurgist and welding expert Jeffrey Sowards in the <a href="https://www.nist.gov/mml/acmd/fatigue-and-fracture-group">Structural Materials Group</a> tests welds by pulling them apart or compressing them to their breaking point under extremely heavy loads. Studying these processes is vital to understanding why welds fail and how those failures are related to the welding process.</span></p>
<h2>Act III: The Cooldown</h2>
<p>Due to the complexity of the laser welding process, directly studying the process in a systematic way can be difficult experimentally. Therefore, the welding community relies on complex models to help solve the mystery. The quality of the output of these models is inherently linked to the quality of data inputs used.</p>
<p>As the saying goes: garbage in, garbage out.</p>
<figure class=" align-center nist-image--lightbox nist-image" role="group">
<div data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2018/04/27/laser_welding_act_iii_730x300_v3.jpg?itok=hqauHcjz" data-media-id="449566">
<img alt="illustration of a freshly finished laser weld. heat radiates into the welded surface, heat affected metal and microscopic cracks surround the weld" height="300" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/2018/04/27/laser_welding_act_iii_730x300_v3.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="730">
</div>
<figcaption class="nist-image__caption">Although the storm has passed, how the weld will perform is being determined. Once the laser has moved on, the molten pool of metal rapidly cools and becomes a solid again, now bridging what was previously a gap between two separate pieces of metal. The speed at which this bridge is formed (the cooling rate) determines an awful lot about the quality of the welds final structure. The cooling process will ultimately determine if cracks will form and what structure the welded metal will have.<div class="nist-image__credit">
<span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span>
B. Simonds/NIST
</div></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In order to help guide the weld models toward more realistic solutions, our team is developing measurement tools to accurately measure all inputs necessary at every stage in the laser welding process. The ability to accurately measure these properties over such large, dynamic time, length, and temperature ranges requires a unique combination of capabilities that only NIST can provide, making this work vital for the welding community.</p>
<p>Although laser welding has the potential to replace 25 percent of existing welding activities, it is currently only used in about 0.5 percent. Making up that difference and realizing all of the technological, economic and environmental benefits that go along with it will require efforts like the one we are pursuing at NIST. Im very proud to be part of such a group and happy to be contributing to a research effort that has the potential for making a large, meaningful impact.</p>
<p>*<em>Edited April 13, 2017</em></p>
</div>
</div>
<div
class="nist-block"
>
<div class="nist-tags">
<a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248531">Energy</a>,
<a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248561">Environment</a>,
<a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248866">Manufacturing</a>,
<a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248946">Materials</a> and
<a href="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249051">Metrology</a></div>
</div>
<div
class="nist-block"
>
<h2
class="nist-block__title"
>About the author</h2>
<div class="nist-field nist-field--label-hidden entity-reference">
<div class="nist-field__items">
<div class="nist-field__item">
<article
about="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/brian-simonds" class="nist-teaser"
>
<div class="nist-teaser__image">
<div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/brian-simonds" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2017/08/15/Simonds-laser-welding-2_headshot.jpg?itok=12YNF8nq" width="100" height="100" typeof="foaf:Image" />
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper">
<header>
<h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/brian-simonds"><span>Brian Simonds</span>
</a></h3>
</header>
<div class="nist-teaser__content">
<div class="text-with-summary"><p>Brian first started working at NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland, as an undergraduate student in 2004, an experience that inspired his decision to enter graduate school. After an 8-year hiatus to obtain a Ph.D. in applied physics at the Colorado School of Mines and complete a postdoc appointment at the University of Utah, he is happy to be back at NIST, only this time in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado. He is an avid rock climber and ski mountaineer and is exquisitely mediocre at both.</p></div>
</div>
</div>
</article>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div
class="views-element-container nist-block no-print"
>
<h2
class="nist-block__title"
>Related posts</h2>
<div><div class="js-view-dom-id-136c643690123c5bc15f99661d5efd780bf4787a3172e7ebeae0c6c14546b296">
<div>
<article
about="/blogs/taking-measure/insulation-melts-your-walls-and-could-reduce-your-energy-costs" class="nist-teaser"
>
<div class="nist-teaser__image">
<div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/insulation-melts-your-walls-and-could-reduce-your-energy-costs" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2025/01/30/jae_hyun_kim_portrait_012125.JPG?itok=JlrBhtoT" width="100" height="67" alt="A researcher in a lab coat and safety glasses poses next to a large piece of lab equipment." typeof="foaf:Image" />
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper">
<header>
<h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/insulation-melts-your-walls-and-could-reduce-your-energy-costs"><span>The Insulation That Melts in Your Walls — and Could Reduce Your Energy Costs</span>
</a></h3>
<div class="nist-teaser__date">
<div class="daterange"><time datetime="2025-02-26T12:00:00Z">February 26, 2025</time>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<div class="nist-teaser__content">
<div class="text-with-summary"> Wherever humans go, we take some form of insulation with us to keep us at just the right temperature. But just because the idea is old doesnt mean that there
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>
</div>
<div>
<article
about="/blogs/taking-measure/safer-skies-fewer-fires-10-ways-nist-impacts-your-daily-life" class="nist-teaser"
>
<div class="nist-teaser__image">
<div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/safer-skies-fewer-fires-10-ways-nist-impacts-your-daily-life" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2024/12/12/2024_EndofYearBlogPost_960x600_v1.png?itok=qqCEC65E" width="100" height="63" alt="Photos of everyday objects like an iron, a gas can and a laptop along with high-tech items like an atomic clock and a mass balance. Label reads: 10 Ways NIST Impacts Your Daily Life. " typeof="foaf:Image" />
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper">
<header>
<h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/safer-skies-fewer-fires-10-ways-nist-impacts-your-daily-life"><span>From Safer Skies to Fewer Fires: 10 Ways NIST Impacts Your Daily Life</span>
</a></h3>
<div class="nist-teaser__date">
<div class="daterange"><time datetime="2024-12-19T12:00:00Z">December 19, 2024</time>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<div class="nist-teaser__content">
<div class="text-with-summary"> If youve ever had a medical test, flown on an airplane, or needed to check the time, NISTs work affects your life every day.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>
</div>
<div>
<article
about="/blogs/taking-measure/talk-nisty-me-when-everyday-words-take-different-meanings-measurement-science" class="nist-teaser"
>
<div class="nist-teaser__image">
<div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/blogs/taking-measure/talk-nisty-me-when-everyday-words-take-different-meanings-measurement-science" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2024/07/03/DSC_5319_web.jpg?itok=BmpD3FoJ" width="100" height="67" alt="A researcher wearing a lab coat uses tongs to place a silvery sphere into a large scientific device as another researcher looks on. " typeof="foaf:Image" />
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper">
<header>
<h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/blogs/taking-measure/talk-nisty-me-when-everyday-words-take-different-meanings-measurement-science"><span>Talk NISTy to Me: When Everyday Words Take On Different Meanings in Measurement Science</span>
</a></h3>
<div class="nist-teaser__date">
<div class="daterange"><time datetime="2024-12-04T12:00:00Z">December 4, 2024</time>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<div class="nist-teaser__content">
<div class="text-with-summary"> Words that have common meanings have different definitions in the world of measurement science.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</article>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div
class="nist-block no-print"
>
<h2
class="nist-block__title"
>Comments</h2>
<section>
<article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-546" class="nist-comment js-comment">
<footer class="nist-comment__info">
<p class="submitted">
<span class="nist-comment__author"><span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" content="Welding Cutting Tools">Welding Cutting Tools</span></span>
on
<span class="nist-comment__date">May 10, 2017 3:09 AM</span>
<mark class="hidden nist-comment__new" data-comment-timestamp="1494400192"></mark>
</p>
<div class="nist-comment__permalink"><a href="#comment-546">Permalink</a></div>
</footer>
<div class="nist-comment__content">
<div class="text-long">Very informative and thanks for sharing !! Beautiful pics</div>
<ul class="links inline nist-comment__links">
<li class="comment-reply nist-comment__link">
<a href="/comment/reply/node/1246686/comment_node_blog/546">Reply</a></li></ul>
</div>
</article>
<article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-114191" class="nist-comment js-comment">
<footer class="nist-comment__info">
<p class="submitted">
<span class="nist-comment__author"><span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Tanmay </span></span>
on
<span class="nist-comment__date">March 22, 2023 10:48 AM</span>
<mark class="hidden nist-comment__new" data-comment-timestamp="1680028118"></mark>
</p>
<div class="nist-comment__permalink"><a href="#comment-114191">Permalink</a></div>
</footer>
<div class="nist-comment__content">
<div class="text-long"><p>Laser Welding has its own benefits but Like any other welding process, can pose health risks to humans if proper safety measures are not taken. Exposure to laser welding fumes and gases can cause respiratory problems and eye irritation. Additionally, the intense light from the welding process can cause eye damage or blindness if proper eye protection is not used. The use of lasers also poses a risk of electrical hazards and can create a fire hazard if proper precautions are not taken.</p>
</div>
<ul class="links inline nist-comment__links">
<li class="comment-reply nist-comment__link">
<a href="/comment/reply/node/1246686/comment_node_blog/114191">Reply</a></li></ul>
</div>
</article>
<article data-comment-user-id="0" id="comment-155861" class="nist-comment js-comment">
<footer class="nist-comment__info">
<p class="submitted">
<span class="nist-comment__author"><span lang="" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">mywelders</span></span>
on
<span class="nist-comment__date">August 26, 2024 8:32 AM</span>
<mark class="hidden nist-comment__new" data-comment-timestamp="1725015246"></mark>
</p>
<div class="nist-comment__permalink"><a href="#comment-155861">Permalink</a></div>
</footer>
<div class="nist-comment__content">
<div class="text-long"><p>Laser custom structural steel welding offers significant advantages such as precision, reduced waste, and lower ecological impact. The process involves creating a deep &quot;keyhole&quot; in the metal, which can affect the final properties of the weld. Researchers are studying the effects of trace elements and cooling rates on weld quality, while developing accurate measurement tools to improve welding models. Despite its potential to replace a significant portion of traditional welding, laser welding is currently underutilized, and ongoing research aims to enhance its adoption and benefits.</p>
</div>
<ul class="links inline nist-comment__links">
<li class="comment-reply nist-comment__link">
<a href="/comment/reply/node/1246686/comment_node_blog/155861">Reply</a></li></ul>
</div>
</article>
<h2>Add new comment</h2>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_Lx5yvw0vUi4TN7C0L-5Rdrp4Q049mXEKn-dXREWOtBs.css?delta=0&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nist_www&amp;include=eJxLzCvJTMov0U-E0Hpp-UW5OsmJBSXJGYn6SYnFqTppmTklqUX6KUWlBYk5ehAeAD47FNs&amp;exclude=eJx1UAuuwyAMuxAdR0IBsi5bIBWfdb39QrunVZOeRFDsWI7BQ3i4JnoW67-9u1fj_xlRkGxmkZnRQQbeGoVqfwmTqTZ3JeWirJkFomtFbSjPdoZjXKkhpaXIE-0vMSLsXLthQt0s7KG4JNFGquDVmCk_TN1qw6QJK-56O7N44HM_fazsDSFi-YNuXdez-oSHBF9tLLCx9AX48oHmSbhWu98XDdMZTV0gaWUr_tprgKaUBAJ2CSPByEbBMGzSm9PwQZ9XNisZg_Bh6O49LSrP_bCeBp4G_kZLFIqMH3oD_KWsjg" />
<form class="comment-comment-node-blog-form comment-form usa-form antibot" novalidate="novalidate" data-drupal-selector="comment-form" data-action="/comment/reply/node/1246686/comment_node_blog" action="/antibot" method="post" id="comment-form" accept-charset="UTF-8">
<noscript>
<div class="antibot-no-js antibot-message antibot-message-warning">You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form.</div>
</noscript>
<div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-name js-form-item-name">
<label for="edit-name" class="usa-label">
Your name
</label>
<input data-drupal-default-value="Anonymous" data-drupal-selector="edit-name" type="text" id="edit-name" name="name" value="" size="30" maxlength="60" class="form-text usa-input" />
</div>
<input data-drupal-selector="form-cj38hwf5ldoi1zx5advwwnudtohktly3ijjafpvm240" type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-CJ38hwF5lDoi1zx5advWwNUDtOHKTLy3IJJAfPvM240" class="usa-input" /><input data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-comment-node-blog-form" type="hidden" name="form_id" value="comment_comment_node_blog_form" class="usa-input" /><input data-drupal-selector="edit-antibot-key" type="hidden" name="antibot_key" value="" class="usa-input" /><div class="field--type-text-long field--name-comment-body field--widget-text-textarea js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-wrapper" id="edit-comment-body-wrapper"> <div class="js-text-format-wrapper js-form-item form-item">
<div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textarea js-form-type-textarea form-item-comment-body-0-value js-form-item-comment-body-0-value">
<label for="edit-comment-body-0-value" class="usa-label form-required">
Comment
<span class="usa-label--required"> <span class="usa-sr-only">Required</span>*</span></label>
<div class="form-textarea-wrapper">
<textarea class="js-text-full text-full form-textarea required usa-textarea resize-vertical" data-entity_embed-host-entity-langcode="en" data-media-embed-host-entity-langcode="en" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-value" id="edit-comment-body-0-value" name="comment_body[0][value]" rows="5" cols="60" placeholder="" required="required" aria-required="true"></textarea>
</div>
</div>
<div class="js-filter-wrapper filter-wrapper hidden js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-format" id="edit-comment-body-0-format"><div class="js-filter-guidelines filter-guidelines js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-format-guidelines" id="edit-comment-body-0-format-guidelines"><div data-drupal-format-id="plain_text">
<h4>Plain text</h4>
<ul>
<li>No HTML tags allowed.</li>
<li>Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.</li>
<li>Lines and paragraphs break automatically.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<fieldset data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha" class="captcha captcha-type-challenge--image">
<legend class="captcha__title js-form-required form-required">
CAPTCHA
</legend>
<div class="captcha__element">
<input data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-sid" type="hidden" name="captcha_sid" value="652120026" class="usa-input" /><input data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-token" type="hidden" name="captcha_token" value="aBFaiTzcpS_uVduXefcuKKalLjfxBD34CYhknRRzZEY" class="usa-input" /><div class="captcha__image-wrapper js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-image-wrapper" id="edit-captcha-image-wrapper"><img data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-image" src="/image-captcha-generate/652120026/1741074561" width="180" height="60" alt="Image CAPTCHA" title="Image CAPTCHA" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" />
</div>
<div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-captcha-response js-form-item-captcha-response">
<label for="edit-captcha-response" class="usa-label form-required">
What code is in the image?
<span class="usa-label--required"> <span class="usa-sr-only">Required</span>*</span></label>
<input autocomplete="off" data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-response" aria-describedby="edit-captcha-response--description" type="text" id="edit-captcha-response" name="captcha_response" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" class="form-text required usa-input" required="required" aria-required="true" />
<div id="edit-captcha-response--description" class="description help-block">
Enter the characters shown in the image.
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="captcha__description description">This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.</div>
</fieldset>
<div data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" class="form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" id="edit-actions--2"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Save" class="button button--primary js-form-submit form-submit usa-button" /></div>
<div class="comments__disclaimer padding-top-2">
<em>Please be respectful when posting comments. We will post all comments without editing as long as they are appropriate for a public, family friendly website, are on topic and do not contain profanity, personal attacks, misleading or false information/accusations or promote specific commercial products, services or organizations. Comments that violate our comment policy or include links to non-government organizations/web pages will not be posted.</em>
</div>
</form>
</section>
</div>
</div>
<aside class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--sidebar-second tablet-lg:grid-col-4">
<div>
<div
class="nist-block"
>
<div>
<div about="/blogs/taking-measure">
<div
class="nist-block no-print"
>
<h2
class="nist-block__title"
>Our Science in Your Inbox</h2>
<div class="text-long"><p>Subscribe to our weekly emails.</p>
<form action="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscribers/qualify" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="post">
<input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="&#x2713;">
<input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="GleKn0r3EFkuIRsIWsyLN6Mrqim4qc3U7eIUCWGqBFz2ziQ/qv0gnQTJUhVbKHMSlmrsC7UHIm6S8IfK6qk9EQ==">
<input type="hidden" name="topic_id" id="topic_id" value="USNIST_309">
<div class="grid-row grid-gap-1">
<div class="tablet:grid-col-8">
<label class="usa-sr-only" for="email">Enter Email Address</label>
<input class="usa-input" type="text" name="email" id="email" title="email" placeholder="Your Email Address">
</div>
<div class="tablet:grid-col-4">
<input type="submit" name="commit" value="Sign Up" class="usa-button margin-top-1">
</div>
</div>
</form>
</div>
</div>
<div
class="views-exposed-form usa-form filters nist-block" novalidate="novalidate" data-drupal-selector="views-exposed-form-search-blog-taking-measure-search-page"
>
<h2
class="nist-block__title"
>Search</h2>
<form action="/blogs/taking-measure/search" method="get" id="views-exposed-form-search-blog-taking-measure-search-page" accept-charset="UTF-8" class="usa-form">
<div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-k js-form-item-k form-no-label">
<input placeholder="Search this blog" data-drupal-selector="edit-k" type="text" id="edit-k" name="k" value="" size="30" maxlength="128" class="form-text usa-input" />
<div id="edit-k--description" class="description help-block">
Put exact phrase in quotes (e.g., "artificial intelligence")
</div>
</div>
<div class="grid-col-12 form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" id="edit-actions"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit-search-blog" type="submit" id="edit-submit-search-blog" value="Search" class="button js-form-submit form-submit usa-button" /></div>
</form>
</div>
<div
class="nist-block no-print"
>
<h2
class="nist-block__title"
>Stay connected</h2>
<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--facebook" title="Facebook" ><span>Facebook</span></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin" title="LinkedIn" ><span>LinkedIn</span></a><a href="https://www.x.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--x" title="X (Twitter)" ><span>X (Twitter)</span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--youtube" title="Youtube" ><span>Youtube</span></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nist/" class="nist-social nist-social--instagram" title="Instagram" ><span>Instagram</span></a><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/new?topic_id=USNIST_309" class="nist-social nist-social--envelope" title="GovDelivery" ><span>GovDelivery</span></a></div>
</div>
<div
class="views-element-container nist-block"
>
<h2
class="nist-block__title"
>Categories</h2>
<div><div class="js-view-dom-id-50e8ef7a23170327f9465655a5cfce33d96dd7d335b9c62341f523c3849c1864">
<div>
<select class="usa-select ViewsJumpMenu js-viewsJumpMenu" title="-- Choose --" id="blog-categories-takingm-jump-menu">
<option>-- Choose --</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249466">Advanced communications</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248321">Bioscience</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248371">Buildings and Construction</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248416">Chemistry</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248486">Electronics</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248531">Energy</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248561">Environment</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248586">Fire</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248616">Forensic Science</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248651">Health</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249421">Information technology</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/2748236">Infrastructure</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248866">Manufacturing</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/248946">Materials</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249011">Mathematics and statistics</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249051">Metrology</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249126">Nanotechnology</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249451">Neutron research</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249426">Performance excellence</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249241">Physics</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249461">Public safety</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249456">Resilience</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249341">Standards</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/2813456">Technology transfer</option>
<option data-url="/blogs/taking-measure/categories/249396">Transportation</option>
</select>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</aside>
</div>
</div>
<div class="grid-container">
</div>
</section>
</div>
<div data-elastic-exclude>
<!-- nist-index-ignore-start -->
<footer class="nist-footer padding-bottom-4">
<div class="grid-container nist-footer__info">
<div class="grid-row">
<div class="tablet:grid-col-6">
<div class="nist-footer__logo">
<a href="/" title="National Institute of Standards and Technology" rel="home">
<img class="nist-footer__logo-img" src="/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/NIST-Logo-Brand-White.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology logo" width="300px" height="42px" />
</a>
</div>
<div class="nist-footer__contact">
<h3 class="nist-footer__contact-heading">HEADQUARTERS</h3>
<address>
100 Bureau Drive<br>
Gaithersburg, MD 20899<br>
<a href="tel:301-975-2000">301-975-2000</a>
</address>
<p>
<a href="mailto:do-webmaster@nist.gov">Webmaster</a> | <a href="https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/contact-us">Contact Us</a> | <a href="https://www.nist.gov/visit">Our Other Offices</a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="tablet:grid-col-6">
<div class="nist-footer__social-links">
<a class="nist-social nist-social--x-white" href=" https://x.com/NIST">
<span>X.com</span>
</a>
<a class="nist-social nist-social--facebook-white" href=" https://www.facebook.com/NIST">
<span>Facebook</span>
</a>
<a class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin-white" href=" https://www.linkedin.com/company/nist">
<span>LinkedIn</span>
</a>
<a class="nist-social nist-social--instagram-white" href=" https://www.instagram.com/nist/">
<span>Instagram</span>
</a>
<a class="nist-social nist-social--youtube-white" href=" https://www.youtube.com/NIST">
<span>YouTube</span>
</a>
<a class="nist-social nist-social--giphy-white" href=" https://giphy.com/nist">
<span>Giphy</span>
</a>
<a class="nist-social nist-social--rss-white" href=" https://www.nist.gov/news-events/nist-rss-feeds">
<span>RSS Feed</span>
</a>
<a class="nist-social nist-social--envelope-white" href=" https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/new">
<span>Mailing List</span>
</a>
</div>
<div class="nist-footer__feedback">
How are we doing? <a class="usa-button" rel="nofollow" href="/form/nist-gov-feedback?destination=/blogs/taking-measure/little-light-construction-laser-welding-three-acts" title="Provide feedback">Feedback</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="grid-container">
<div class="nist-footer__nav" role="navigation">
<ul>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/privacy-policy">Site Privacy</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/oism/accessibility">Accessibility</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/privacy">Privacy Program</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/oism/copyrights">Copyrights</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.commerce.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy">Vulnerability Disclosure</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/no-fear-act-policy">No Fear Act Policy</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/office-director/freedom-information-act">FOIA</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/environmental-policy-statement">Environmental Policy</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/summary-report-scientific-integrity">Scientific Integrity</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.nist.gov/nist-information-quality-standards">Information Quality Standards</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://www.commerce.gov/">Commerce.gov</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="http://www.science.gov/">Science.gov</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="http://www.usa.gov/">USA.gov</a>
</li>
<li class="nist-footer__menu-item">
<a href="https://vote.gov/">Vote.gov</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
<!-- nist-index-ignore-end -->
</div>
</div>
<script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/1246686","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"back_to_top":{"back_to_top_button_trigger":100,"back_to_top_speed":1200,"back_to_top_prevent_on_mobile":false,"back_to_top_prevent_in_admin":true,"back_to_top_button_type":"image","back_to_top_button_text":"Back to top"},"google_analytics":{"account":"G-HEQ0YF2VYL","trackOutbound":true,"trackMailto":true,"trackTel":true,"trackDownload":true,"trackDownloadExtensions":"7z|aac|arc|arj|asf|asx|avi|bin|bsh|c|csv|doc(x|m)?|dot(x|m)?|dw(fx|g|gd)|dxf|eps|epub|exe|f(90)|flv|gif|gz|gzip|hqx|jar|jpe?g|js|m1v|mp(2|3|4|e?g)|mobi|mov(ie)?|msi|msp|pdf|phps|pl|png|ppt(x|m)?|pot(x|m)?|pps(x|m)?|ppam|sld(x|m)?|thmx|qtm?|ra(m|r)?|rfa|rtf|rvt|sch|sea|sit|swf|tar|tgz|tif|txt|txz|wav|wma|wmv|wpd|wrl|xls(x|m|b)?|xlt(x|m)|xlam|xml|xsd|z|zip"},"nist_search":{"clickTracking":"search-report-click","isDebug":false,"clickTrackEnabled":true,"message":"NIST Search in debug mode. Check the browsers network inspector for Click Track reporting results..."},"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":false,"extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extNoreferrer":false,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"\\.gov\\\/|\\.mil\\\/|\\manufacturingusa\\.com\\\/","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":".ck-editor, .nist-video-thumbnail__lightbox-trigger, a.nist-icon--mail-blue","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":true,"extAlertText":"Thank you for visiting NIST. We hope your visit was informative. We have provided a link to this site because it has information that may be of interest to our users. NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on this site. Further, NIST does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on this site. Click OK to be directed to your link.","mailtoClass":"0","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"after","extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","whitelistedDomains":[]}},"viewsJumpMenu":{"blog-categories-takingm-jump-menu":{"new_window":false}},"ajaxTrustedUrl":{"\/blogs\/taking-measure\/search":true,"\/comment\/reply\/node\/1246686\/comment_node_blog":true},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"bd6a443844dbe99b4e6942f3b1397526e760137efd2b1ee6b2d588fc414dff20"},"antibot":{"forms":{"comment-form":{"id":"comment-form","key":"8s3HerPNUiBWAup-NU0eICdfN5XSJ1VRGAW7gyEytXD"}}}}</script>
<script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_jDaFaXhHm6gPUKstNYX9eIyoQXghVs3g7rbR0QoqpYY.js?scope=footer&amp;delta=0&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nist_www&amp;include=eJxdkAuOwyAMRC8E9ZGQCQ51CzgCp2lvX8hHu6qEBG8Yz0j2OD2dSj8L-L-3ezQTRWIihwXTR3lq8CuYwk3dzF0LspUkGJzWHsIlQsTju7ES56XKi-BXGC27pnfK1HsleawuS4DADX0PTlyeuwdiEo_JniNwJwxUL3Tbtv1z0FvHIIS6LphuJ5pJcqail3yi9R_7YtqoHskZY-GZJzPE5h5rXlz3rbCzHWwHGyzKXhTO-zZLzaavQ6leFQd9AQAFjIc"></script>
<script src="https://siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_6017546.js" async></script>
<script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_phYs2jDctfdGpas0b2o3STtb7Y4B0bPDz-8rro3OgSg.js?scope=footer&amp;delta=2&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nist_www&amp;include=eJxdkAuOwyAMRC8E9ZGQCQ51CzgCp2lvX8hHu6qEBG8Yz0j2OD2dSj8L-L-3ezQTRWIihwXTR3lq8CuYwk3dzF0LspUkGJzWHsIlQsTju7ES56XKi-BXGC27pnfK1HsleawuS4DADX0PTlyeuwdiEo_JniNwJwxUL3Tbtv1z0FvHIIS6LphuJ5pJcqail3yi9R_7YtqoHskZY-GZJzPE5h5rXlz3rbCzHWwHGyzKXhTO-zZLzaavQ6leFQd9AQAFjIc"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"37b7ccb661","applicationID":"1089704227","transactionName":"YFxUN0sADEdYVkBaClkWdwBNCA1aFnFGRhVWVWoNVgUHaHpaWkcXWFVaBks9LFtdUGJaAEB6WQ1NEw1YVVBGHltBUFMU","queueTime":5,"applicationTime":1284,"atts":"TBtXQQMaH0k=","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","agent":""}</script></body>
</html>