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Laser transmission welding is a well-known joining technology for thermoplastics, providing reliable and hermetical sealing without adhesives or particle formation. The main advantages of laser-based energy input - high precision, no additional adhesive and no particle emission - are essential for medical and optical applications. To obtain sufficient absorption in visually transparent polymers, thulium fibre lasers emitting in the polymers’ intrinsic absorption spectrum are used. Optics with high numerical aperture provide large intensity gradients inside the specimen, enabling selective fusing in the joining zone. Although the basic feasibility has already been demonstrated, the welding process lacks stability and productivity.
Aim of this work is the determination of optimized settings for a fast and reliable welding process. Thus, the interplay of process parameters as well as their impact on the seam are analysed by thermal simulations. Calculated settings are verified by welding tests with COC, PA6 and PETG, using a fixed-focus optics and a 3D laser scanner with up to 200 mm/s feed rate.
Optical and medical devices made of transparent polymers are gaining popularity because of its cost advantages. The manufacturing technology must be able to meet the high demands of these applications. Advantages of laser transmission welding – contactless input of energy, precision, no adhesives and no particle formation – can be exploited here. For absorber-free welding, lasers emitting in the polymers‘ intrinsic absorption spectrum are used. Focusing the laser beam with high NA enables selective fusing of the joining zone. Since a molten upper surface leads to visible and palpable irregularities, the lateral expansion of the weld seam is monitored in this work. Welding tests with 1 mm thick plates of COC are performed and monitored by pyrometry. Distances between seam and surface measured in thin cuts and are compared with the pyrometer signal. This shows that the localization of the weld seam is possible and proper and faulty parts can be distinguished by pyrometry.