TECHNOLOGY NEWS: MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES
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A compact laser microwelder from arteos GmbH with an easy-to-use touch screen can perform difficult welding jobs.
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Laser microwelding has become a standard technique for joining components in the medical device industry, where the requirements for strength, miniaturization, and temperature resistance are constantly rising. To enable the safe and efficient welding of small metal components, arteos GmbH (Seligenstadt, Germany; www.arteos.com) developed a pulsed Nd:YAG laser that can produce a spot size as small as 10 µm diam.
“Because of the small beam diameter and finely adjustable power, the laser can safely weld filigree and metal microcomponents without major distortion,” explains CEO Winfried Korb. “And with the easy-to-use touch screen, even people with little previous experience can learn the art of microwelding.”
In 2005, arteos was struggling to find a way to weld 10-µm platinum wires in a gas sensor. “After researching various joining techniques, we found that laser welding technology would work best, but the machines on the market did not bring the desired result,” he says. “The wires ended up vaporized because of the high laser power and large spot size. So in 2006, we started developing a microwelding unit that would suit our needs.” In March 2008, the company introduced the sum of its research and development efforts: the TOLAS1 laser.
The system is able to perform such delicate tasks as welding a 25-µm-thick titanium foil to a titanium ring. The unit features a 10- to 50-µm-diam laser spot, maximum output of 5 W, and pulse energy of 2 to 500 mJ. An extensive accessory program comprising grippers, supply systems, and customized structures is also available. Optionally, the equipment can be used for boring, cutting, and structuring.
