A clamping apparatus for clamping shaped parts which may be welded along a welding contour by irradiation with a laser beam, includes a first clamping plate used as a holder for a first shaped part, a second clamping plate which is designed to apply a clamping force to the first shaped part and a second shaped part arranged thereon, an outer clamping jaw including a recess and an inner clamping jaw arranged in the recess, which together form the second clamping plate, a passage gap for a laser beam formed in sections between the outer clamping jaw and the inner clamping jaw, and one or more fastening elements which connect the outer clamping jaw with the inner clamping jaw in sections and which bridge the passage gap. The clamping apparatus includes a mirror element arranged such that a laser beam is reflected onto a section of the welding contour.

A simultaneous laser welding apparatus of a vehicle light comprising a placement support for a container body and a lenticular body of a vehicle light welded together at reciprocal perimeter profiles, a plurality of laser sources, a plurality of optical fibres associated with the laser sources at input ends for transmitting the light beams, a fibre-holder support device for blocking output ends of the optical fibres in predetermined positions, spaced apart by a pitch, a light guide provided with at least one seat which receives the light beams coming from the output ends of the optical fibres, to a light output wall which sends the light beams towards the welding interface. A single optical fibre is associated with each laser source.

Device and method for laser welding around a circumference of a workpiece. A fixed, non-movable unitary optical reflector is provided, which has a pair of optical reflecting surface portions on a first side surface and a second side surface, respectively, arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other. A workpiece is positioned and fixed in an assembly that includes the unitary optical reflector. During setup, the vertical distance is adjusted between the unitary optical reflector and the workpiece along an axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the workpiece without any adjustment of the reflecting surfaces, which remain fixed during setup. The first and second side surfaces define a curve that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. Once setup has been completed, a laser beam is directed so that it moves along the optical reflector to thereby produce a 360 degree circumferential weld around the workpiece.

The present disclosure relates more to processes for making a filter element that includes a filter membrane having a strip of thermoplastic polymer material laminated thereto, for example, as a strip along an edge of the filter membrane. For example, one such process includes providing a sheet of filter membrane having a first surface and an opposed second surface; providing a strip of thermoplastic polymer material having a first surface and an opposed second surface; contacting the first surface of the strip of thermoplastic polymer material with the first surface of the filter membrane; and softening the strip of thermoplastic polymer material at at least its first surface by irradiation with laser radiation; such that the softened polymer material of the first surface of the strip of thermoplastic polymer material bonds to the first surface of the filter membrane upon hardening.

A laser welding method and system for joining portions of first and second workpieces of thermoplastic material that is partially permeable to a laser beam but absorbs radiation from the laser beam. The first and second workpieces, which are made of material that absorbs radiation from a laser beam, are clamped together. A mask is placed on a first surface of the first workpiece, the first surface being opposite the surface engaging the second workpiece. The mask is impermeable to a laser beam and forms a slot for passing a laser beam to the portion of the first surface of the upper workpiece exposed by the slot, so that heating and melting of the material of the workpieces is limited to the width of the slot. A laser beam is directed onto the slot and moved in a manner to illuminate the slot to melt and join the workpieces.

A connection, and methods of making an using such a connection, the connection comprising a first layer; a second layer concentrically disposed about the first layer; and a laser-induced seal between portions of the first and second layers; wherein the laser-induced seal provides a fluid-tight engagement between the first and second layers. As to particular embodiments of the connection, the first layer can be incorporated into a first conduit and the second layer can be incorporated into a second conduit.

Method for joining a fluid conduit and a connection hub. There is provided a method for joining a fluid conduit 2 and a connection hub 7, wherein a fluid 2 conduit is provided having an at least partially transparent end section 1. Also provided is a connection hub 7 comprising a hub cavity 9 having a shape complementary to a shape of the end section of the fluid conduit 1. The end section of the fluid conduit 1 is at least partly introduced into the hub cavity 9 through an opening in the hub, wherein a contact interface between at least a lateral wall part of the end section 1 and a hub cavity 9 wall is established. The method includes heating a target zone 27 in the contact interface, for joining the fluid conduit 2 and the connection hub 7 at the target zone 27, by directing a light beam 29 across the at least partially transparent end section 1 of the fluid conduit 2 from a side of the fluid conduit 2 which is opposite a side of the target zone 27.

A narrow waveguide homogenizes laser light traveling from a laser light source of a laser bank through a plurality of laser delivery bundles that include at least a fiber optic bundle leg to weld a plurality of work pieces along a weld line that is narrower than the width of the fiber optic bundle leg. The narrow waveguide has a portion associated with each fiber optic bundle leg that is narrower than the fiber optic bundle leg with which that portion of the waveguide is associated. A reflective bounce plane diverts laser light of the fiber optic bundle leg that does not travel through the narrow waveguide.

A connection, and methods of making an using such a connection, the connection comprising a first layer; a second layer concentrically disposed about the first layer; and a laser-induced seal between portions of the first and second layers; wherein the laser-induced seal provides a fluid-tight engagement between the first and second layers. As to particular embodiments of the connection, the first layer can be incorporated into a first conduit and the second layer can be incorporated into a second conduit.

A vehicle light having a container body having a first perimetral profile, a lenticular body, having a second perimetral profile, wherein the first and second perimetral profile of the container body and the lenticular body are at least partially counter-shaped to each other in order to interface at a welding interface of an abutment edge of the lenticular body. The container body delimits a containment seat that houses a light source and the lenticular body is applied to the container body so as to close the containment seat. A redirection surface is adapted to receive laser beams, to concentrate and reflect them towards the welding interface. The redirection surface is arranged on an inner face of the abutment edge, the inner face facing the containment seat and incident with the welding interface. A method of making the vehicle light is also disclosed.