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US 2004/0056006 A1Published application
Welding method
AssigneeThe Welding Institute
InventorsIan Anthony Jones, Roger Jeremy Wise
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AssigneeThe Welding Institute
InventorsIan Anthony Jones, Roger Jeremy Wise
Estimating the term…
A method of forming a weld between workpieces (1, 2) over a joint region (3). The method comprises: exposing the joint region (3) to incident radiation (4) having a wavelength outside the visible range so as to cause melting of the surface of one or both workpieces at the joint region, and allowing the melted material to cool thereby welding the workpieces together. A radiation absorbing material is provided at the joint region (3) in one of the workpieces (1,2) or between the workpieces which has an absorption band matched to the wavelength of the incident radiation so as to absorb the incident radiation and generate heat for the melting process. The absorption band lies outside the visible range so that the material does not affect the appearance of the joint region (3) or the workpieces (1, 2) in visible light.
A method of forming a weld between workpieces over a joint region, the method comprising:
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation absorbing material is exposed to radiation prior to positioning the workpieces together.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation absorbing material is exposed to radiation through one of the workpieces.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the workpieces are made of plastics.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation absorbing material is a radiation absorbing dye.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower limit of the absorption band is above 700 nm.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the absorption band does not include the range 400-700 nm.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation is in the infrared range.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wavelength of the incident radiation lies in the range 700-2500 nm.
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation is a laser beam.
A pair of workpieces which have been welded by a method according to any of the preceding claims.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.