Laser Soldering |
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| In soldering, the mating parts are joined
by a filler material, or solder. The melting temperature of the
solder is lower than that of the component materials. As a
result, only the solder is melted during soldering; the mating
parts are merely warmed. Once melted, the solder flows into
the gap between the parts and bonds with the surface of the
workpiece (diffusion bond). Soldering a joint requires access
to only one side of the joint. The thin gap between the components
functions like a capillary, drawing the liquid solder
into the joint. The soldered joint is only as strong as the solder material. In a related process called brazing, solders made of copper and zinc can produce joints that are as strong as those attained during welding. The surface of the solder seam is smooth and clean, forming a nicely curved transition to the workpiece. Since solder seams do not require finishing, they are often used in the automotive industry for making body parts such as trunk lids or car roofs. Before the parts are painted, they only have to be cleaned. Other applications can be found in mixed constructions. Components made of dissimilar materials often cannot be welded or, if they can, with only limited success due to the very different melting points of the materials. Joining aluminum and steel is one such example. For these and similar joining tasks, soldering offers the perfect alternative. |
| © 2007 TRUMPF, 2007-11-02 | |