Gaps at part interfaces pose a major challenge for laser transmission welding (LTW) of thermoplastics due to the reliance on contact conduction between the absorptive and transmissive parts. In industrial applications, gaps between parts can occur for a variety of tolerance and process control reasons. Previous experimental and modeling work in LTW has focused on gap-free joints, with little attention to bridging a gap with thermal expansion of the absorbing material. A two-dimensional comprehensive numerical model simulated bridging gaps in LTW. Using the model, operating parameters were selected for welding across a gap and a gap by creating sufficient thermal strain to bridge the gap and form a weld. Using these operating parameters, PVC samples were welded in a -joint geometry with a designed gap. The quality of the welds was assessed visually, by destructive force testing and by measuring the weld size to quantify the weld strength. All the experimental samples, for the two gap sizes, bridged the gap and formed welds. The average weld strength of the gap samples was , while the gap samples had an average strength of . Gaps were successfully bridged with LTW by using a two-dimensional model to design the operating parameters. To achieve higher modeling accuracy, a three-dimensional model might better simulate the thermal diffusion in the direction of laser travel.
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e-mail: vandeven@me.umn.edu
e-mail: agerdman@me.umn.edu
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December 2007
Technical Papers
Bridging Gaps in Laser Transmission Welding of Thermoplastics
James D. Van de Ven,
James D. Van de Ven
Mechanical Engineering Department,
e-mail: vandeven@me.umn.edu
University of Minnesota
, 111 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Arthur G. Erdman
Arthur G. Erdman
Mechanical Engineering Department,
e-mail: agerdman@me.umn.edu
University of Minnesota
, 111 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Search for other works by this author on:
James D. Van de Ven
Mechanical Engineering Department,
University of Minnesota
, 111 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455e-mail: vandeven@me.umn.edu
Arthur G. Erdman
Mechanical Engineering Department,
University of Minnesota
, 111 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455e-mail: agerdman@me.umn.edu
J. Manuf. Sci. Eng. Dec 2007, 129(6): 1011-1018 (8 pages)
Published Online: July 6, 2007
Article history
Received:
November 3, 2006
Revised:
July 6, 2007
Citation
Van de Ven, J. D., and Erdman, A. G. (July 6, 2007). "Bridging Gaps in Laser Transmission Welding of Thermoplastics." ASME. J. Manuf. Sci. Eng. December 2007; 129(6): 1011–1018. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2769731
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