The increasing adoption of laser welding is due in no small part to the many technical advantages it offers. With regard to the economic advantages, prejudices still exist on account of higher investment costs for suitable materials. Any comparison with other processes must consider all aspects.
Black-to-Black Laser Transmission Welding
Laser plastic welding, also known as through transmission welding, is quite simple in its essence (see Basic Process Video). Laser radiation is shot through an upper transmissive plastic part and the energy is absorbed by the lower layer, creating heat at the interface and melting both parts.
However, the process does not always seem so intuitive. For instance when welding colored materials, specifically ones with opaque upper layers. Read the rest of this entry »
Basic Process Video
The process of laser plastic welding involves passing laser radiation through an upper transmissive layer to the surface of the lower absorbing layer. The absorbed radiation creates heat and contact between the two joining partners allows for melt and a weld at the interface.
LQ-Spot Laser Staking System
The LQ-Spot is a hot riveting system designed for mounting circuit boards into plastic housings. A project typical done with imprecise welding systems, glue or screws; there was a lot of room for improvement. The LQ-Spot provides perfectly reliable mounting with no chance of damaging the circuit board. The precise control over placement of the heat makes it ideal for sensitive circuit board mounting jobs.
What Industries Is Laser Plastic Welding In?
Nearly two decades old, laser plastic welding is gradually gaining a foothold in the plastics joining universe. It started out as a niche welding method providing specialized welds for cutting edge applications that could not be joined by traditional methods. Today the technique is becoming more widely used.
Plummeting costs of laser sources and a higher demand for the systems themselves are driving the cost to adopt laser welding down. In fact, the cost of a standard laser welding system is now on par with traditional methods such as ultrasonic and hot plate welding.
Clamp Tools and Fixturing in Laser Plastic Welding
Solid knowledge and execution of clamping and fixturing can have a profound effect on the laser welding process. To ensure quality welds during laser plastic welding, intimate contact between the two parts is paramount. Close contact will allow for adequate heat to be transferred, through heat conduction, from the absorbing lower layer to the transmissive upper layer.
TMG2 Handheld Transmission Testing System
The LQ-TMG2 is a handheld unit design for testing the transmission rates of plastics. Excellent for material selection, quality control and testing; the TMG2 is becoming an industry standard for ensuring proper material transmission.
Design Guidelines: Hybrid Laser Welding of Automotive Lighting
This design guide is an elaboration on the original LPKF Design Guidelines for Laser Plastic Welding. You will find this document has a specific focus on automotive exterior lighting. All of the considerations have been adapted to this topic and other details have been added.
The purpose of this Automotive Lighting design guide is to help engineers understand the process and the type of considerations required to implement laser hybrid welding in auto lamp assemblies.
Laser hybrid welding of automotive lighting is a promising technology offering many advantages over traditional welding methods (hot-plate, vibration, ultrasonic, etc.) including: simple joint designs, the ability to handle large and complex shapes and the elimination of the post-weld annealing process.
Automotive Lamp Welding with Hybrid Laser Welding Video
Laser plastic welding is an effective means for assembling automotive exterior lighting. Replacing other welding methods, such as vibration, hot-plate and ultrasonic, laser hybrid welding brings to the table a variety of advantages and is opening new doors for design innovation.
Tune in to this quick video interview to hear LPKF Sales Manager, Dax Hamilton, as he explains the ins-and-outs of laser hybrid welding of automotive lamps.
Laser Plastic Welding Methods Explained
Laser plastic welding is a broader term that encompasses four major types of laser welding processes.
Although these processes all employ the same principles, it is important to understand that they are all quite different and one method may be excellent for one application and not for another.
This article will outline the differences between the laser plastic welding methods and lay out some pros and cons of each.