Even though 3D printers can fabricate complex shapes that would be nearly impossible to mill, they are not well suited to designs requiring bridging or with large empty spaces. To overcome this, ...

Figure 1. Various test samples that have been laser welded in an applications lab (a) and a low-density polyethylene fluid container welded with a diode laser system (b). Direct welding of plastics is ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Did you know that plastics can be welded, like metal? It's a pretty common practice in the automotive industry. But this doesn't apply to all ...

Industrial lasers are used to process engineering plastics across many markets. Some examples of the common processes are shown in Figure 1, including laser marking, cutting, and welding.

Last time we talked about a video that purported to do plastic welding, we mentioned that the process wasn’t really plastic welding as we understood it. Judging by the comments, many people agreed, ...

The Eastwood kit's Speed Tip uses a heated tip that allows you to push the welding rod through it so it comes out soft and hot on the other end. Other methods include hot-gas welding, which uses hot ...

Hot-plate welding and STTIr laser welding are both used in joining plastic parts. The authors break down the differences and the practical outcomes. The Branson GLX-3 Laser Welder from Emerson uses ...

Laser plastic welding has grown in popularity for medical applications because it reliably joins a wide range of materials, including dissimilar materials. At the same time, the process uses no ...

Making vehicle structures out of a combination of metals and plastics could make them dramatically lighter, stronger, safer and more environmentally friendly than the all-steel or all-aluminum ...