TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 708/2000
I A Jones and E Olden
Background
Between 1996 and 1999 a number of research organisations and companies using thermoplastic polymers have worked on, and developed the use of, transmission laser welding. At least one company has gone into production using the process.
There are some fundamental requirements for transmission laser welding that need to be investigated to assist in the application and to give more confidence in its use. A key part is to understand the behaviour and response of materials in a laser beam. The response may be considered from two aspects. Firstly, the effects of the material properties on the welding process, and secondly, the effects of different applied welding parameters.
Objective
- To develop and validate a finite element model of the process of transmission laser welding between two thermoplastic polymer parts.