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Emerson’s Laser Welder Improves Manufacturing Efficiency and Quality of Smaller Plastic Parts
The Branson GLX Micro Laser Welder provides precise, clean and repeatable welds of delicate and intricate plastic component.
Emerson has introduced the Branson GLX Micro Laser Welder, supporting the need to manufacture smaller and more delicate plastic parts used in the medical and consumer electronics industries. The benchtop version of the GLX Series uses advanced laser technology and incredibly low clamp force to produce precise, clean and repeatable welds of superior aesthetic quality and performance. This provides manufacturers with greater design freedom and increased production throughput.
The GLX Micro uses the patented Simultaneous ThroughTransmission Infrared® (STTlr®) laser welding technology, which enables manufacturers to achieve superior weld strength and quality with exceptional speed and flexibility. With STTIr, all lasers are fired simultaneously to heat, melt and bond the component parts along the entire weld surface in 0.5 to 5 seconds, depending on material and geometric complexity. This method is highly repeatable and stable, helping to increase production throughput.
STTlr eliminates the use of friction which may generate flash and particulates, thereby ensuring smooth and barely visible weld lines can be incorporated into product designs. With STTlr, highly complex 3D contours can be accommodated, allowing designers to create parts for maximum functionality and ergonomic appeal. The GLX-micro offers the industry’s lowest clamp force of 1 Newton, enabling the joining of small and very delicate parts, including those with embedded electronics and sensors.
“There is increasing demand for smaller and more intricate high-quality plastic components for the medical and consumer electronics markets,” said Priyank Kishor, global product manager for Branson products at Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “By offering advanced welding performance and an unrivaled clamp force, the GLX Micro laser welder enables manufacturers to design and efficiently produce the highest quality products.”
The GLX Micro is cleanroom compatible, having a stainlesssteel design, requiring no lubricants, and being powered from a remote electrical cabinet that can be positioned outside the production area. To support traceability, production data, including weld depth and clamp force, is available in a range of formats and can be outputted to the manufacturing execution system.
The Branson GL-300is a highly flexible quasi-simultaneous plastic joining solution, designed to deliver efficient high-quality welds in a wide range of applications and help manufacturers to increase production efficiency.
Branson™ GL-300 platform increases production capability and enables faster production start-up
Emerson has launched a new laser welder platform that provides high mix and batch manufacturers of plastic components with greater production capability, without compromising product quality or performance. The Branson GL-300 is a highly flexible quasi-simultaneous plastic joining solution, designed to deliver efficient highquality welds in a wide range of applications and help manufacturers to increase production efficiency.
Manufacturers increasingly need machines and processes that can be quickly and cost-effectively adapted to changing production demands and specifications. For low volume, high mix manufacturers especially, flexible welding solutions that allow faster production start-up, provide a critical advantage. The Branson GL platform meets this need by combining highly efficient and accurate welds with costeffective and easy-to-change tooling that enables faster set-up and adjustment for changing product specifications. Manufacturing capability is further enhanced by a range of unique features including a high-quality scanning system, easy-to-use HMI, large (300mm x 300mm) weld area, multiple weld modes, variable spot size as low as 0.5 mm and an adjustable laser power source height. These enable the Branson GL-300 to support applications with different materials, application sizes and production speeds.
“For batch manufacturers looking for more efficient production processes, quasi-simultaneous laser welders provide a very flexible, cost-effective joining solution,” said Priyank Kishor, global product manager for Branson products at Emerson’s Automation Solutions Business. “The Branson GL-300 extends this flexibility by enabling the assembly of a broader range of components, helping to increase manufacturing capability and profitability.”
www.Emerson.com/Branson
