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Influence of the Laser-Beam Distribution on the Seam Dimensions for Laser-Transmission Welding: A Simulative Approach

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Abstract

Radiation propagation and temperature development are simulated for laser-transmission welding of polycarbonate and polybutylene terephthalate parts. The simulations are carried out for a Gaussian- and an M-shape laser beam. For polycarbonate the shape of the laser beam is preserved, while for polybutylene terephthalate it is altered due to scattering processes. The resulting intensity and integrated intensity distribution in the joining zone are calculated for both polymers. They give rise to different temperature fields. The dimensions of the model seam are approximated by the dimensions of the melt isotherm. For polycarbonate the seam generated by a Gaussian beam has a non-homogeneous thickness and a width that is smaller than the beam diameter. For an M-shape beam it has a homogeneous thickness and its width scales with the width of the integrated intensity. For polybutylene terephthalate volumetric scattering destroys the original beam shape in the joining zone. The distributions of the integrated intensities and the dimensions of the seam are similar for both types of beams.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Mrs. Frauke Legewie from LIMO Lissotschenko Mikrooptik GmbH, who provides the M-shape data.

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  1. Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Steinbachstr. 15, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Mirko Aden

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  1. Mirko Aden
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Correspondence to Mirko Aden.

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Aden, M. Influence of the Laser-Beam Distribution on the Seam Dimensions for Laser-Transmission Welding: A Simulative Approach. Lasers Manuf. Mater. Process. 3, 100–110 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40516-016-0023-x

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