Design of energy optimization for laser polymer joining process

Different laser heat inputs were applied on the gray-colored acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic using fixed laser power and variable scanning speeds to join ABS- and polycarbonate (PC)-based polymers. Experiments with a laser power between 6 and 8 W and a scanning speed of 1,500, 3,000, and 4,500 mm/min were used for the joining. Heat-affected zone (HAZ) and melt zone measurements were performed to find the joining energy threshold, and the mechanical properties of welds were evaluated. At the low scanning speed, the total heat input at the given area resulted in carbonization damage on the surface. However, energy distributed laser beam joining process by galvanometers resulted in secure and sound weld joining quality. Damage threshold was calculated as 127 J/cm² with relatively less sensitivity of scanning speed. However, the ablation threshold was measured to be 215, 281, and 424 J/cm² for the scanning speed of 4,500, 3,000 and 1,500 mm/min, respectively.