Method for laser welding ultra-thin metal foils
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of lap or side by side lap welding ultra-thin metal foils having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches comprising:
- a) providing a first ultra-thin foil having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches,b) providing a second ultra-thin foil having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches,c) placing one of the ultra-thin foils on top of the other ultra-thin foil so that the foils are arranged in a stacked configuration,d) clamping the first and second foils together in a stacked configuration,e) providing a laser having a focused beam,f) directing the beam of the laser onto the stacked foils to cut portions of the stacked foils to form a channel outlined by the cut portions of the stacked foils, and to melt the cut portions of the stacked foils to form weld beads.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for simultaneously cutting and welding ultra-thin foils having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches wherein two ultra-thin films are stacked and clamped together. A pulsed laser such as of the Neodymium: YAG type is provided and the beam of the laser is directed onto the stacked films to cut a channel through the films. The laser is moved relative to the stacked foils to cut the stacked foils at successive locations and to form a plurality of connected weld beads to form a continuous weld.
81 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of lap or side by side lap welding ultra-thin metal foils having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches comprising:
-
a) providing a first ultra-thin foil having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches, b) providing a second ultra-thin foil having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches, c) placing one of the ultra-thin foils on top of the other ultra-thin foil so that the foils are arranged in a stacked configuration, d) clamping the first and second foils together in a stacked configuration, e) providing a laser having a focused beam, f) directing the beam of the laser onto the stacked foils to cut portions of the stacked foils to form a channel outlined by the cut portions of the stacked foils, and to melt the cut portions of the stacked foils to form weld beads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. The method of welding two ultra-thin foils having a thickness of less than 0.002 to form a laser tight seal, comprising
a) providing a first ultra-thin foil having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches; -
b) providing a second ultra-thin foil having a thickness of less than 0.002 inches; c) placing one of the ultra-thin foils on top of the other ultra-thin foil so that the foils are arranged in a stacked configuration; d) providing a laser having a focused beam; e) moving the laser relative to the foils to cut a channel through the foils and to form overlapped weld beads outlining the channel wherein said overlapped weld beads form a vacuum tight weld. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification