IPG Photonics YLM Series

$40,000 - $500,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

Laser Technology

Multi-mode Continuous-Wave Ytterbium Fiber Laser

Wavelength

1070 – 1080 nm

Output Power Range

1 kW – 50 kW (model dependent)

Beam Quality (M²)

2 – 25 (power/model dependent)

Process Fiber Core Diameter

100 µm – 600 µm

Output Connector

QBH (standard IPG)

Overview

The IPG Photonics YLM Series is a family of multi-mode continuous-wave ytterbium fiber lasers designed specifically for high-power laser welding, cladding, hardening, and brazing applications. While IPG's single-mode YLR Series delivers a near-diffraction-limited beam optimized for high-speed thin-sheet cutting, the YLM Series uses a larger-core multimode fiber to deliver a broader beam profile with a more uniform intensity distribution — characteristics that favor deep penetration welding, wide-track cladding, and area hardening over the precision cutting tasks for which single-mode beams are optimized.

The YLM Series is available in power levels from approximately 1 kW to 50 kW, with the higher-power configurations used in shipbuilding, heavy structural welding, and roll cladding applications where energy deposition rate rather than beam quality is the dominant performance parameter. Beam delivery is through large-core process fibers (typically 100 µm to 600 µm core diameter) compatible with standard IPG QBH connectors, enabling straightforward integration with robotic welding heads, gantry-mounted processing heads, and custom optical delivery systems.

For laser welding applications, the YLM's multimode beam profile produces a wider, more forgiving melt pool than single-mode alternatives, improving tolerance to joint fit-up variation, wire feeding alignment, and surface contamination. This makes the YLM particularly well-suited to automated robotic welding of automotive body structures, battery housings, heat exchangers, and pressure vessels where consistent weld quality across high production volumes is essential. Power modulation capability allows pulse shaping for crack-sensitive alloys and dissimilar metal joining.

IPG Photonics is the world's largest fiber laser manufacturer by market share, and the YLM Series benefits from the same vertically integrated manufacturing — diodes, active fiber, beam combiners, and optical components all produced in-house — that gives IPG's lasers their reputation for long service life and low total cost of ownership relative to competing laser technologies. The YLM is sold as an OEM component for integration into welding systems, though IPG also offers complete LightWELD and systems-level products for specific end-user markets.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Laser Technology	Multi-mode Continuous-Wave Ytterbium Fiber Laser
Wavelength	1070 – 1080 nm
Output Power Range	1 kW – 50 kW (model dependent)
Beam Quality (M²)	2 – 25 (power/model dependent)
Process Fiber Core Diameter	100 µm – 600 µm
Output Connector	QBH (standard IPG)
Power Modulation	Analog 0–100% or digital pulse shaping
Modulation Frequency	Up to 5 kHz
Power Stability	< ±1% RMS
Operating Temperature	10 – 40°C
Cooling	Water-cooled (chiller required)
Electrical Efficiency	> 30% wall-plug efficiency

Specifications sourced from ipgphotonics.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Multimode beam profile produces a wider, more uniform melt pool than single-mode lasers — better tolerance to joint fit-up variation in automated welding
Power range from 1 kW to 50 kW covers the full spectrum from precision component welding to heavy plate and shipbuilding applications
High wall-plug electrical efficiency (>30%) significantly reduces operating costs compared to CO2 laser or lamp-pumped Nd:YAG systems
Power modulation and pulse shaping capability enables crack-sensitive alloy welding and dissimilar metal joining without additional hardware
IPG's vertically integrated manufacturing delivers multi-year MTBF and lower maintenance cost than competing laser technologies

Limitations

Sold as an OEM laser source requiring integration with processing head, chiller, motion system, and controller — not a turnkey welding solution
Multimode beam quality (M² > 2) is not suited to high-precision fine-feature cutting or micromachining where diffraction-limited focus is required
High-power water-cooled systems (10 kW+) require significant facility infrastructure including chilled water supply and high-voltage electrical service

Best For

Automotive manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers running high-volume robotic laser welding of body-in-white, battery housings, and powertrain components Laser system integrators building custom welding, cladding, or surface hardening systems for aerospace, energy, and industrial manufacturing customers Shipbuilding and heavy fabrication facilities replacing CO2 laser or submerged arc welding with fiber laser for improved speed and flexibility Additive manufacturing and cladding equipment builders producing directed energy deposition (DED) systems for part repair and large-format metal deposition

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the difference between the YLM multimode series and the YLR single-mode series?

The YLR Series delivers a near-single-mode beam (M² ~1.0–1.1) optimized for high-speed thin-sheet laser cutting where tight focus and high intensity are critical. The YLM Series delivers a multimode beam through a larger process fiber, producing a wider intensity profile ideal for welding, cladding, and hardening where melt pool width and process robustness matter more than minimum spot size. The YLR cuts; the YLM primarily welds and clads.

02 What process fiber core diameter is recommended for robotic laser welding?

For most robotic laser welding applications in automotive and industrial fabrication, 200 µm and 300 µm core process fibers are the most common choices. Smaller cores (100 µm) provide tighter focus for precision thin-section welding; larger cores (400–600 µm) deliver a broader, more tolerant beam for structural welding with gap variation. The process head optics (collimating and focusing lens focal lengths) interact with fiber core size to determine the final spot size at the workpiece.

03 Can the YLM Series be used for laser cladding (directed energy deposition)?

Yes. Laser cladding is one of the primary applications of high-power multimode fiber lasers. The YLM's broad, uniform beam profile is well-matched to powder or wire cladding nozzle geometries, providing consistent energy distribution across the clad track width. Power levels from 2 kW to 20 kW are commonly used for industrial cladding of wear and corrosion protection coatings on oil and gas, mining, and power generation components.

04 How does electrical efficiency compare between fiber laser and CO2 laser for welding?

IPG YLM Series fiber lasers achieve wall-plug efficiency of 30–40%, meaning 30–40% of input electrical power becomes laser output. CO2 lasers typically achieve 8–15% wall-plug efficiency for industrial systems. This means a 10 kW fiber laser consumes roughly half the electrical power of an equivalent CO2 laser to produce the same output, translating to substantially lower operating costs and cooling infrastructure requirements over the system lifetime.

05 Does the YLM Series support real-time power monitoring for weld quality control?

Yes. IPG fiber lasers include internal photodiode back-reflection monitoring and output power monitoring, with analog and digital feedback signals available for integration with welding system controllers. For more advanced process monitoring (melt pool imaging, pyrometry), the YLM is typically paired with a third-party monitoring system integrated into the processing head optics. IPG also offers coherent imaging system options on select laser configurations.