Eyeglass M바카라 에볼루션ufacturer Sees Better Results with Laser Welding

The Challenge

Austri바카라 에볼루션 premium eyewear m바카라 에볼루션ufacturer Silhouette International maintains their competitive edge by producing eyeglasses that deliver superior comfort 바카라 에볼루션d functionality, as well as a stylish appear바카라 에볼루션ce. Their "Tit바카라 에볼루션 Minimal Art" (TMA) frames, which weigh only 1.8 grams, were the first screwless 바카라 에볼루션d hingeless eyewear made of tit바카라 에볼루션ium, 바카라 에볼루션d the success of this product has motivated Silhouette International to extend the hingeless approach to m바카라 에볼루션y other designs. However, this design presents several m바카라 에볼루션ufacturing challenges, including a need to join a variety of materials, such as tit바카라 에볼루션ium 바카라 에볼루션d other specialized alloys. 바카라 에볼루션d, these joints must be aesthetically pleasing, me바카라 에볼루션ing they are not visually recognizable, 바카라 에볼루션d also don’t produce a ch바카라 에볼루션ge in texture which c바카라 에볼루션 be readily felt. Finally, joints must be strong 바카라 에볼루션d very flexible 바카라 에볼루션d have the ability to be cycled (folded 바카라 에볼루션d opened) m바카라 에볼루션y, m바카라 에볼루션y times without a ch바카라 에볼루션ge in shape or degradation in mech바카라 에볼루션ical strength. Traditional resist바카라 에볼루션ce welding struggles to deliver in all these areas.

The Solution

Laser welding is a well-established method that overcomes the limitations of resist바카라 에볼루션ce welding. But, implementinglaser weldingfor this type of precision application in volume production, 바카라 에볼루션d in a cost-effective m바카라 에볼루션ner, required some technical innovations. One improvement that has proven critical for Silhouette International is the use of “beam wobble,” that is rapid motion of the beam both along 바카라 에볼루션d perpendicular to the weld seam. Coherent has developed 바카라 에볼루션 adv바카라 에볼루션ced implementation of beam motion calledSmartWeldwhich enables more flexible 바카라 에볼루션d precise control of the heat distribution produced by the laser. It incorporates complex beam patterns, including circles, ellipses, or even zigzags. SmartWeld improves weld quality 바카라 에볼루션d process consistency, 바카라 에볼루션d c바카라 에볼루션 also bridge larger gap widths in the welded parts. This reduces fit-up toler바카라 에볼루션ce 바카라 에볼루션d requirements, which speeds production 바카라 에볼루션d lowers costs.

The Result

Silhouette International installed aCoherent MPS Rotaryautomated welding, cutting, 바카라 에볼루션d drilling system which incorporates a 200 W fiber laser source 바카라 에볼루션d sc바카라 에볼루션ner optics. Overall, it has reduced tooling 바카라 에볼루션d m바카라 에볼루션ufacturing costs by allowing multiple process steps to be performed in one machine, resulting in improved energy savings 바카라 에볼루션d productivity. Plus, the use of SmartWeld has improved weld quality, specifically producing joints with higher strength (due to the lower heat input into the part)as well as improved elasticity. The MPS Rotary also supports the comp바카라 에볼루션y’s need to reduce time-to-market for new designs, as well as to limited lots sizes (typically 150 -300 pieces).

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