Transmission welding using laser beams offers significant advantages over conventional joining technologies in welding plastics. It is especially suited for joining plastic materials with different optical absorption at the laser wavelength. The laser light penetrates the transparent component and is absorbed by the non-transparent component where it is converted into heat. The two plastics melt at the interface and welding is accomplished by external pressure applied by a workhold fixture.

PROCESS PARAMETER
temperature	T	[êC]
laser power	PL	[W]
welding time	t	[s]
focus spot size	s	[mm2]
welding pressure	p	[Pa]
welding speed	v	[mm/s]

TRANSMISSION WELDING	BUTT WELDING
The joints' geometry must be matched to the materials and parts welded, e.g. molded and formed parts, foils, semi-products, etc.

Materials

Practically any thermoplasts can be laser-welded. This group of plastics includes: