New Processing Head Reduces Polymer Bonding Costs:LIMO Lissotschenko Mikrooptik GmbH said its newly developed processing head LPH-L can reduce processing costs of fiber reinforced thermoplastics by up to 30% and enables the processing of parts previously considered too complex.
Together with a fiber-coupled industrial laser system, the compact processing head LPH-L can generate a 12x2mm welding line. By rotating the processing head, the welding line can be adjusted to a minimum length of 5mm.
By variable handling of the line processing head (e.g. mounted on a robot arm), it is possible to achieve diverse welding geometries using only one tool. In addition, the processing head is able to compensate for level differences in the component of up to 12mm.
The LPH-L also allows welding spots to be applied in the form of short lines of e.g. 10mm. These “line-spots” are more strain-resistant than standard spots. The laser head is also able to weld a surface of 12xXmm, where “X” denotes a variable surface size.
In this way surfaces are more quickly bonded than is possible with, for example, a laser scanner. The system can also create a third beam geometry, namely a contour weld of width 5-12mm.
Applied to continuous material in a roll-to-roll process, the laser beam head can also generate a continuous weld seam. This also highlights the advantage of gentler line welding: Heat is generated more slowly along the line (linear intensity distribution) than in the case of laser spot welding.
At the same time, the strength of the weld is not impaired. The advantage: heat-sensitive materials or components are not distressed by the welding process.
LPH-L also offers a unique combination of five features:
– At only 153x90mm, it is up to 50 % more compact than comparable processing heads;
– Four welding geometries are possible using one and the same multifunctional laser head (welding points, surfaces, contour welding and continuous materials). Thus LPH-L offers a wide range of welding options – without scanner technology.
– Temperature-regulated processing and data logging are already integrated into the laser system.
– Weighing only 1,200g, the compact and robust head can be deployed on lightweight robot arms.
– LPH-L is newly designed, less complex and can reduce processing costs in comparison to similar systems by up to 30%.
The new laser beam head allows the processing of large as well as small and fragile components such as membranes, opening up new possibilities in design and functionalization. The processing head can be integrated into the manufacturing process inline and can be deployed on a robot arm. The welding process is monitored by an integrated measurement and control system. Processing data are stored to enable track and trace.
Peter Bruns, Director Application and Customer Service at LIMO, summarizes, “With LIMO’s new compact line processing head, suppliers of lightweight automobile components can now serve the middle and low-cost market segments as well as the high-end segment.”
Source : China Plastic & Rubber Journal
