„New concept for laser welding modules“

The new LSM 250 laser welding module minimizes the effort involved in developing laser applications for the manufacture of plug connector contacts. It is a standard concept used by Bihler to implement corresponding laser welding modules in new systems.

In the past, laser welding processes intended specifically for the manufacture of plug connector contacts were designed to meet specific customer requirements and implemented individually on the corresponding Bihler systems. On the one hand, the effort involved in developing these manufacturing solutions was correspondingly high and, on the other, a new solution had to be developed for each individual application. It is to overcome these drawbacks that Bihler has now developed the new LSM 250 laser welding module. “The LSM 250 module is a standard concept for welding plug connector contacts that users can call on whenever they need to and save themselves a lot of work,” explains Marc Walter, Departmental Manager for Design & Development at Bihler. “It provides all the functionalities needed for the spot or seam welding of plug connector contacts. These include the strip feed as well as the centering, guidance and clamping of the component. At the same time, the module ensures that the welding fumes are extracted and that the laser welding area is securely enclosed.”

Up to 500 strokes per minute

Designed in the typical Bihler grid dimension of 250 millimeters, laser welding modules implemented with the LSM 250 can be used without difficulty on a LM 2000-KT/-NC or a BIMERIC, for example. Used on these machines, the solution is able to show off all its strengths in the field of plug connector production: “The LSM 250 laser welding module allows the machines to run at particularly high speeds and at throughputs of up to 500 cycles per minute,” continues Walter. “It also ensures stable process conditions, delivers reproducible results and excels through its generally high availability.” And if a malfunction does occur from time to time, this can be quickly identified and eliminated thanks to the easy-to-open design. The module also contains all the geometrical interfaces to the machine bed, and the integrated quick-clamping systems ensure particularly short setup and teardown times.