Open AccessLaser‐Based Polymer Welding in Medical Device Manufacturing
Author(s) -
Neukum Jörg
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
laser technik journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1863-9119
pISSN - 1613-7728
DOI - 10.1002/latj.200990073
Subject(s) - welding , materials science , laser beam welding , process (computing) , mechanical engineering , laser , robot welding , computer science , engineering drawing , composite material , optics , engineering , operating system , physics
Polymer welding in medical device manufacturing has special requirements as related to the colors of the materials, the process control and the documentation of the process parameters. The usage of laser‐based plastics joining brings in some aspects which make this joining method for particular applications advantageous compared to classical plastics joining methods like ultrasonic or heat‐stamp. Some of the advantages of laser welding of polymers are · its excellent welding quality · the protected welding zone (inside welding) · the clean surfaces (no particles) · the high optical quality of the seam · the minimal thermal load to the work piece · easy designs (flat surfaces e.g.) · the contact‐free welding process (no deterioration of the welding quality) · the online closed‐loop process control and documentation. ·