An apparatus for connecting together two sections of tubing using a laser. A pair of fixtures hold the two tubing sections in opposed, end-to-end relation so that axially facing surfaces of the tube sections at the ends are free from exposure to a surrounding environment. A photodiode laser emits an electromagnetic beam at a separate sheet of material positioned between the axial surfaces at the ends of the tubing sections. The sheet absorbs energy of the electromagnetic beam. The pair of fixtures move the two tubing sections to bring the respective axially facing surfaces of the two tubing sections into engagement with the sheet and after the axially facing surfaces of the two sections are brought into engagement with the sheet, the electromagnetic beam is directed onto the sheet for welding the two sections of tubing together.
