A laser welding system includes a free-spacing beam delivery laser head having a linear array of at least two laser diodes, each of the diodes generating a laser beam of a predetermined wavelength and spectral width. The laser beams are adapted to weld a workpiece having a first component and at least one other component to be welded to the first component, the first component substantially transmissive to the wavelength, the other component substantially absorptive of the wavelength. A lens is spaced from the linear array, and directs the laser beams to at least one other lens spaced from the lens. The other lens shapes the laser beams to a predetermined width and length, and focuses the laser beams to substantially the same location, thereby forming a continuous line of laser energy being in a plane containing the workpiece, and being substantially orthogonal to the workpiece translation direction.