Laser welding tooling and laser welding systems

A welding system for an energy storage system, the energy storage system having a cell housing comprising a plurality of cell openings for holding a plurality of cells, respectively, the plurality of cells mounted therein and a first plurality of bus bars and a second plurality of bus bars,

• the welding system comprising:
• a first welding plate comprising:
• a first portion which comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess comprising an elastomer configured to compress under a force and a tip, where a proximal end of the tip is in contact with the elastomer, the elastomer having a durometer rating less than a predetermined threshold;
• and
• a second portion mounted to the first portion, the second portion having a plurality of first openings, each first opening corresponding to a recess, where a respective tip extends through a respective first opening, wherein each tip is slidably mounted within the welding plate, each tip having a central opening forming a welding channel, the distal end of the tips, when the first welding plate is mounted to the energy storage system, is configured to contact the first plurality of bus bars, the first welding plate further comprising a plurality of second openings, each second opening corresponding to a recess, wherein each second opening is aligned with the central opening of the tip, each second opening configured and dimensioned to form a laser welding channel,
• a backer plate comprising a plurality of substantially equal length projections corresponding to the tips, the backer plate, when mounted to the energy storage device is configured to contact the second plurality of bus bars, and
• at least one of the monitoring laser or a welding laser.