Development and application of miniaturized scanners for laser beam micro-welding

Nowadays, flexible production systems for laser joining of micro parts require high dynamics and precision, as well as increased flexibility regarding the working space. The combination of miniaturized scanner-based laser joining systems and high-performance assembly systems is a new approach for a high accuracy compact micro assembly system with an increased flexibility. Using highly dynamic oscillation techniques leads to a stabilization of the welding process of difficult-to-weld materials, e.g. of zinc-containing alloys on the one hand, and to an increased process velocity and reduction of the joining geometry, e.g. for the welding of plastic materials on the other. Hence, a miniaturized laser processing optics is being developed featuring an integrated beam deflection for laser beam micro welding of metal as well as plastic materials. The requirements on this laser processing optics, the choice of a suitable beam deflection system and the design and simulation of the miniaturized optics are presented and discussed. Furthermore, results of laser beam micro welding applications are presented. These results directly influence the design of new miniaturized laser processing optics. By means of the integration of highly dynamic scanner devices further process improvements can be achieved for laser beam micro welding.