microWELDTM

The manufacturing of medical instruments and implants is characterized by smaller and smaller structures as well as the demand for highest precision in terms of surface quality, absence of burr, and materials residues. While established fabrication technologies increasingly face their limits, laser micromachining provides optimum preconditions for the required quality and precision since machining is accomplished in a contactless fashion.
 

Therefore the company developed their new laser system microWELDTM for welding metals, which enables to weld airtight for instance NIOB, titan and different steels. It is possible to precisely adjust the geometry of the weld by variation of the lasers` parameters and hence to weld smallest components with a very small heat-effected zone. For instance, seam widths of 0,3mm and seam depths smaller than 0,1mm can be achieved independent of the material.


The system is already used for instance to weld implants. In this case, the welding atmosphere is particularly important beside to the welded joint. This is the reason for the application of a glove-box system in the microWELDTM, which allows the customer to weld in a highly purified environment. An innovative beam guidance, a special feeding for work pieces, an air-conditioning device, a suction at the point of welding as well as 3D-Micromacs machine control software microMMITM are completing the microWELDTM system.

System description (sample configuration)

  • Max. travel:

o    X-,Y-axis: 300mm

o    Z-axis: 50mm

o    A-,B-axis: 360°

  • Positioning accuracy:

o    X-,Y-axis: ±10 μm / 300mm

o    Z-axis: ±6 μm / 50mm

o    A-,B-axis: ±180 / 60 arc sec

  • Repeatability:

o    X-,Y-,Z-axis: ±1 μm

o    A-,B-axis: ±12 arc sec unidirectional

  • Welding camera integrated in welding head
  • Inspection camera for optical checking of the welded work pieces
  • Vacuum pump and foot switch
  • Power messurement device for measuring of the incident laser power
  • Documentation of all process parameters per workpiece for exact tracking
  • Creation of reports per batch or workpiece
  • Data Backup by server
  • Assistance for FDA certification of laser system and laser process

Gloveboxsystem

  • Gas cleaning, Multi-box-operation , Box-flushing
  • 2 Gloveboxes connected by air shower door
  • Helium mixing unit
  • Humidity- and oxygen sensor
  • Cooling water monitoring
  • CleanJet active exhaust system
  • 2 vacuum furnaces 250°C (adjustable) with sluice function
  • 3 vacuum pumps
  • Mini air shower to lock out materials
  • Protective atmosphere (water and O2 < 1 ppm)

Laser source (selectable, example)

  • Type: pulsed Nd:YAG-Laser
  • Wave-length 1064nm
  • Performance (max.) 50W
  • Repetition frequency 200 Hz

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