New laser seam welder provides fast processing speeds and low heat affected zone

Citation

(1999), "New laser seam welder provides fast processing speeds and low heat affected zone", Industrial Robot, Vol. 26 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1999.04926cad.007

New laser seam welder provides fast processing speeds and low heat affected zone

Keywords Lasers, Welding

A new pulsed Nd:YAG laser welder, able to produce high peak power pulses at a 200 Hz-repetition rate ideal for seam welding, is now available from Leicester-based Townsend Coates. Overlapping spots between 50 percent and 90 percent controls the strength and hermeticity of the seam.

Continuous wave (CW) seam welders use high average power and continuous output to create welds which can result in a substantial heat affected zone (HAZ) outside the target area. By contrast, the LW250, manufactured by Unitek, uses high peak power; short duration pulses that target the welding area and control adjacent area heating. This is beneficial for welding in close proximity to heat sensitive components such as glass feed-though and electronic components.

The LW250 can produce up to 5kW of peak power at 50 joules/250 watts of energy. Pulse width can be controlled from 0.3ms to 20ms in 0.1ms increments. The pulse repetition rate is programmable from 1Hz to 200Hz. The LW250 incorporates pulse shaping which tailors the output energy profile to meet the varying requirements of welding materials.

Established in 1961 Townsend Coates is a member of the Sedgemoor Group plc, and is a leading distributor of electromechanical and passive components. The company's production division specialises in providing production solutions for electronic assembly in a wide range of industry sectors, and offers products which range from advanced resistance welding and reflow systems to desktop robots, electric handtools and ergonomic workstations. With a team of highly skilled experts, Townsend Coates has the capability of seeing a project through from problem analysis to pre-production trials.

For more information contact Eddie James, Townsend Coates, Lunsford Road, Leicester, LE5 OHH. Tel: +44 (0) 116 274 4488.