Method and apparatus for irradiation welding of two thermoplastic components
AssigneeLaserquipment AG
InventorsAlexander Hofmann, Stefan Hierl, Frank Brunnecker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method and an apparatus for irradiation welding of two thermoplastic components, a local temperature maximum, which circulates together with the laser beam and increases from cycle to cycle, and a correspondingly circulating, locally increased clamping pressure are generated in the area of joining.
Claims10
A method of irradiation welding of two thermoplastic component parts (11, 12) by production of a weld seam (5) in an area of joining between the absorptive and transmissive component parts (11, 12) by means of an energy beam, in particular laser beam (4),
- wherein the energy beam (4) acts on the absorptive component part (11) in several cycles such that a local temperature maximum (Tmax), which circulates together with the energy beam (4) and increases from cycle to cycle, and correspondingly circulating, locally increased clamping pressure are generated along the area of joining;
- wherein the transmissive component part (12) is continuously heated in the area of joining by the absorptive component part (11), corresponding to the circulating temperature maximum (Tmax);
- wherein a welding process then takes place by plasticization of the two component parts (11, 12) in a circulating area of plasticization that is defined in the longitudinal direction of a weld seam, equally corresponding to the circulating temperature maximum (Tmax);
- and
- wherein the two component parts (11, 12) are interlocked by a clamping device (13, 13′) that produces a minimum clamping power.
An apparatus for irradiation welding of two thermoplastic component parts (11, 12) by production of a weld seam (5) in an area of joining between the absorptive and transmissive component parts (11, 12), comprising
- a beam source (2) and a beam guide (3) for production and guidance of an energy beam, in particular laser beam (4), towards the absorptive component part (11) through the transmissive component part (12);
- a beam deflection unit (5) for displacement of the energy beam (4) in cycles along the area of joining, corresponding to the weld seam, such that a local temperature maximum (Tmax), which circulates together with the energy beam (4) and increases from cycle to cycle, and correspondingly circulating, locally increased clamping pressure are generated along the area of joining;
- and
- a clamping device (13, 13′) that interlocks both component parts (11, 12) by a minimum clamping power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.