METHOD OF CLAMPING THERMOPLASTIC PIECES AND HEAT CONTROL FORLASER WELDING

摘要

Plastic pieces (26, 28) for laser welding are clamped by a support mechanism (12, 14) that covers an interface of a joint to be welded. The support mechanism is transparent to the laser (20) radiation. Surface cooling (40) o f the support mechanism and the pieces is provided by fluid such as nitrogen directed to the point of laser impingement at the interface. The local intensity of the laser can be reduced by beam splitting. Heating at the weld zone is controlled by the differing optical characteristics of the component s. One of the pieces can be used as a waveguide to direct the laser radiation t o the interface.