LEISTER Laser Welds PEEK

    SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 5, 2002--LEISTER Technologies, LLC located in Schaumburg, Illinois announces that they have been successful in laser welding PEEK(TM) (Polyaryletherketone) thermoplastic material, by Victrex USA Inc.
    PEEK(TM) material has a balance between high temperature mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and processability, all of which makes it well suited for applications in the Food Processing, Industrial, Medical, Telectronics, and Transportation industries. The semi-crystalline nature and high processing temperature pose unique challenges when welding PEEK(TM) assemblies.
    The Novolas(TM) laser system by LEISTER uses a diode laser to weld thermoplastic materials. The system accurately controls the laser energy delivered to the welding area, and therefore can precisely control the temperature of the weld area. Laser welding is a non-contact process. No vibration or oscillation is induced into the parts to be welded. Therefore there is no marring of the part's surface and no particulate contamination is produced.

    LEISTER Technologies offers a variety of solutions for laser welding applications

    The Novolas(TM) C laser system delivers the laser energy to the weld area in the form of a spot. The spot can be traversed around the part in a preprogrammed weld path. Allowing the welding of complex shapes and patterns.
    Novolas(TM) S delivers the laser energy in the form of a line or circle. In addition to using a single laser line the system can also be adapted to use four or more lines to produce a simultaneous weld around a square or rectangular part.
    Novolas(TM) M also utilizes a laser line. It differs from simultaneous in that the process incorporates the use of a mask to block the transmission of the laser line as the laser is scanned over a part. This process can be used to produce welds with widths that vary from 0.1 mm up to 14 mm.
    Novolas(TM) Mu is LEISTER's answer for the micro-assembly market. This process uses the same principles as the Novolas(TM) M system. However, this system utilizes nine axes, which allow for automatic alignment of the mask with an accuracy of 0.002 mm.
    Novolas(TM) OEM is ready for integration into the production line. The OEM system can be configured to supply the laser energy in a spot, line or circle format, at a variety of laser powers. The additional options of a pyrometer, camera, and clamping and positioning systems will afford customers with an enormous degree of flexibility in the design of their system.