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Lasers in car manufacture

July 01, 1999

Lasers play a key role in modern production - for such tasks as cutting sheet metal to size, welding containers and trimming circuit . But their potential is far from exhausted. The automobile industry is playing a pioneering role in the introduction of new laser types and machining processes. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden are contributing to many developments in this field. At Laser 99 the Institutes presented some of their current work.

The ILT is presenting new applications for high-performance diode lasers and diode-pumped solid-state lasers. For the first time, a demonstration unit for welding plastic filter housings will show how easily compact and sturdy diode lasers can be integrated in robots. The robot arm incorporates a gripper unit and the optics for the diode laser. The laser welds the two plastic parts together with an overlap joint. In the technique applied the laser beam penetrates the upper transparent part without damaging it and is only effective on the second part which has a strongly absorbent surface. The melt produced in this thin zone gently forms a high-quality positive joint. This technique for joining plastics can be used for welding even complex geometries and areas which are difficult to access.

Hybrid processes are a specialty of the scientists working at IWS in Dresden. For instance, they combine laser technology with induction heating. Inductively boosted laser-beam welding produces crack-free welded joints even on hardenable steels and special alloys. The welding speed can reach several meters per minute. Two German car makers are already operating laser induction welding units in series production. DaimlerChrysler, for example, uses them to weld gear components for the A-Class.

For further information:
Dr. Peter Loosen
Phone: +49 2 41/89 06-1 62
Fax: +49 2 41/89 06-1 21
email: loosen@ilt.fhg.de
Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT
SteinbachstraÃŸe 15
D-52074 Aachen
Presse Contact:
Axel Bauer
Phone: +49 2 41/89 06-1 94
Fax: +49 2 41/89 06-1 21
email: bauer@ilt.fhg.de
http://www.ilt.fhg.de

Dr. Jens StandfuÃŸ
Phone: +49 3 51/25 83-2 12
Fax: +49 3 51/25 83-3 00
email: standfuss@iws.fhg.de
Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS
WinterbergstraÃŸe 28
D-01277 Dresden
Press Contact:
Dr. Ralf J'�ckel
Phone: +49 3 51/25 83-4 44
Fax: +49 3 51/25 83-3 00
email: info@iws.fhg.de
http://www.iws.fhg.de

Caption: Gear component for the A-Class, laser-welded after induction preheating.
(This picture - in colour or black-and-white - can be ordered from the publisher or downloaded from the Internet)

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