Welding with digital printing technology
Today, the high-precision laser welding process is increasingly used as an alternative to ultrasonic and high-frequency welding of plastics.
A prerequisite is the reliable and economical application of a complex additive. In the past, there was no industrial solution for this. Together with partners, REA JET has developed a highly interesting digital printing process using REA JET Clearweld Primer for automation.
Classically transparent plastics, such as PE, PP, PC, PS, SAN have naturally only a limited laser absorption capacity, making plastic welding impossible or very difficult. With the REA JET solution, transparent and laser-transparent plastic materials can be prepared with the REA JET Clearweld Primer, which has a high specific laser energy, so that they can be welded with lasers. Injection-molded plastic parts as well as non-woven fabrics can also be welded with this solution.
Process Steps:
It works in these three steps…
- Coating Process
- Pre-assembly Process
- Welding Process
- REA JET´s field of competence
- Using REA JET HR printing technology transparent plastic parts will be economical and precise digital printed with REA JET Clearweld Primer
- The REA JET DOD 2.0 system issuitable for large areas
- The primer absorbs highly effectively specific laser energy
- Automated digital printing of primer for reproducible, cheaper and better welding results
- The REA JET Clearweld Primer dries within a very short time on the surface of the plastic part
- Positioning or pre-assembly of a second non-coated plastic part of the same material on the already coated plastic part in preparation for the welding process.
- While both parts are pressed against each other, specific laser energy is directed into the interfaces between the parts.
- The laser beam passes through the upper part and the laser energy is absorbed in the welding area.
- This generates heat that melts the plastic and welds the parts together.
- After plasticizing, the two parts are permanently joined together.
