The mechanisms of laser welding are explained and three examples are described to illustrate the flexibility of Nd:YAG laser welding in production of small components. Explanations are given of the principles of condition-limited welding, deep penetration welding and braze welding. The production line examples given relate to: cutting, laser seam welding and laser spot welding of stainless steel housings of gyros for aeronautical navigation; laser spot welding a cobalt alloy torsion spring onto a stainless steel gyro housing; and braze welding of a tungsten alloy to an iron-cobalt alloy, involving melting the latter to make the joint. Workpieces, procedures and results obtained are detailed