System welds optically transparent polymers

A Rofin-Baasel product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 28, 2005

In cooperation with partner companies BASF and Treffert, Rofin now provides a system for welding optically transparent or fluorescent polymers .

In cooperation with partner companies BASF, a manufacturer of polymers and additives, and Treffert, a masterbatcher, Rofin now provides a system for welding optically transparent or fluorescent polymers.

Laser welding of polymers has established itself as a new and promising industrial joining technology.

Welding transparent or fluorescent coloured polymers opens up new possibilities for innovative and high class designs in the medical device, electronics and design industry.

Laser welding of polymers uses the 'over-lap geometry' (the laser penetrates the upper polymer layer and is absorbed by the lower).

In optically transparent polymers, a new kind of additive affects the necessary absorption of the laser beam.

Lumogen IR 765 and Lumogen IR 788 by BASF can be processed easily, are non-ionic, halogen and heavy-metal free and non-toxic.

These are all excellent preconditions for applications in the medical device and other such sensitive industries.

Depending on the design of the components and the joining geometry, different methods of laser welding may be applied.

Contour welding means that either the laser beam is moved across the welding contour or the workpiece is moved under the laser.

Typical motion systems are robots, linear axes, rotary axes for round parts or even scanner mirrors.

The welding is performed locally, as cooling down times are shorter than the complete motion cycle.

Quasi-simultaneous welding means the laser beam is moved rapidly across the workpiece several times.

As motion cycle times are shorter than the cooling down times the entire welding seam is quasi-simultaneously welded.

Due to the high motion speeds required, only scanner mirrors can be used for welding plane components and rotary axes for round components.

Rofin specialists will be available at the Interplas 2005 show, on Stand 5358-D, to discuss any laser welding, or laser marking and engraving requirements users may have.

Find out more about this article. Request a brochure, download technical specifications and request samples here.

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