Ultrasonic welding is one of the most widely used processes for bonding polymers, valued for its speed, flexibility and low cost. Recently, there has been a call for more controlled and consistent ultrasonic welding processes, as part designs become more complex and requirements more stringent. There also is a need for strong, dimensionally consistent parts that show good cosmetics. The process used to meet these increasing demands must be consistent and repeatable over time.
In the ultrasonic welding process, there are three fundamental process variables that have a direct effect on weld quality: amplitude, force and duration. The first of these parameters, amplitude, has long been controlled through frequency selection, horn-booster design and modulation of the electrical input to the transducer. The second of these parameters, duration, could be controlled only by setting a specific weld time for 50 years. In 1988, Dukane’s development of welding by distance allowed for greatly improved troubleshooting and process control.
Servo-driven ultrasonic welding has been introduced as a precise method of control for the third parameter that defines ultrasonic welding, force. In recent years, there has been a plethora of research conducted with the new servo-driven ultrasonic welder. Each of these experimental studies has demonstrated unique benefits of using servo-driven ultrasonic welders.
We are entering an exciting new age of ultrasonic welding. Servo-driven ultrasonic welders offer greater process control than ever was possible before, which will allow welding of ever more complex and demanding applications.
Process control
It has long been known that better process control leads to improved part quality and consistency. As Robert Leaversuch noted in 2002: “In automotive, medical and other demanding sectors, use of advanced controls is critical to meeting strict quality requirements” [G]. In this, as so much else, servo welders are at the “top of the process-capability food chain” [F]. Because all of the process settings are controlled electronically, it is easy to switch between welders [I]. Also, this greatly simplifies the calibration and validation processes. Servo-driven ultrasonic welders further ease process optimization by allowing all the weld data to be exported in formats that easily can be imported to Excel or Minitab for analysis [E]. The data produced by the generator in the form of graphs or weld data is very useful for process optimization and troubleshooting [H]. Simply said, servo welders “take control of the process away from the plastic” [F].
Precision and repeatability
The servo welder has been shown to consistently produce more repeatable results through multiple methods of evaluation. A study done at Value Plastics, a manufacturer of precision molded couplers and components for various industries (including medical), showed that the servo welder produced much more consistently hermetic welds (as measured using pressure decay) with a standard deviation of 0.4 of a percent compared to 2.9 percent when using a pneumatic welder [A].
The servo-driven ultrasonic welder also offers “excellent repeatability of collapse distance from part to part” [B]. In a pneumatic system, there is a limit to the speed at which air can escape the cylinder, preventing abrupt changes in velocity and reducing distance control. Dukanes servo ultrasonic welder can accelerate up to a rate of 1270mm/s², allowing almost instantaneous velocity shifts during the weld and hold phases [I]. An initial study of the servo ultrasonic welder in 2009 showed that the servo welder was able to achieve a standard deviation of 1.1 percent in measured collapse distance, compared to 3.9 percent achieved with the pneumatic welder [C]. Value Plastics was able to achieve a standard deviation of collapse of 0.9 of a percent in production using Dukane’s servo-driven ultrasonic welder [I].
Other studies have shown that using servo ultrasonic technology produces parts with more repeatable weld strength. Experimentation at The Ohio State University has shown a standard deviation of weld strength of 5.1 percent when using Dukane’s servo-driven ultrasonic welder, compared to 9.4 percent when using a pneumatic welder [D]. At Turku University of Applied Sciences in Finland, experiments demonstrated that standard deviation in weld strength can be halved when switching from a pneumatic welder to a servo-driven welder on parts with shear joints [E].
Clearly, servo-driven ultrasonic technology offers improved repeatability, measurement accuracy and more precision. This improved consistency will be needed as products become increasingly complex.
Weld strength
In addition to increased repeatability, multiple studies have shown that servo-driven ultrasonic welders produce parts with increased weld strength over parts produced with pneumatic welders [1, 2, 6, 8]. Even under non-ideal circumstances (such as when grease is present in the joint or the energy director is damaged), servo welders were able to create stronger bonds than pneumatic welders [F]. Servo technology has proved to provide greater tolerance of part variations, allowing greater weld strength – as demonstrated by fracture occurring in the bulk material rather than in the joint as was seen when using pneumatics [A].
Experimentation at a Finnish university showed that parts welded with Dukane’s servo-driven ultrasonic welder were 19.1 percent stronger when using a shear joint and 21.4 percent stronger when using an energy director than parts welded using a pneumatic welder [E]. In the first study performed by Dukane on the new servo welder, weld strength was 16.7 percent greater than pneumatically welded samples [C]. Even with just 59 percent of the energy input, parts welded with the servo-driven ultrasonic welder were consistently more leak tight than parts welded with a pneumatic welder [A].
Plastics Decorating would like to thank Dukane for this article. Dukane is a global provider of plastic welders for the welding of thermoplastic materials. A standard line of ultrasonic, vibration, hot plate, spin welders, laser welders and heat staking thermal presses are used to provide solutions that meet the unique requirements of each customers application. For more information, contact Michael Johnston, vice president of sales and marketing, at mjohnston@dukane.com or visit www.dukane.com/us.
References
A – M. Marcus, K. Holt, A. Mendes. “Benefit of Servo-Ultrasonic Welder to Medical Industry – A Case History” ANTEC 2012.
B – A. Benatar. “Servo-Driven Ultrasonic Welding of Semi-crystalline Thermoplastics” 39th Annual Symposium of the Ultrasonic Industry Association, Cambridge, MA, 2010.
C – M. Marcus, P. Golko, S. Lester, L. Klinstein. “Comparison of Servo-Driven Ultrasonic Welder to Standard Pneumatic Ultrasonic Welder” ANTEC 2009.
D – A. Mokhtarzadeh and A. Benatar. “Comparison of Servo and Pneumatic Ultrasonic Welding of HDPE Shear Joints” ANTEC 2011.
E – H. Turunen. “Ultrasonic Welding for Plastics” Bachelors Thesis, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland. 2011.
F – T. Kirkland. “Ultrasonic Welding: The Need for Speed Control” Plastics Decorating. July/Aug., 2012.
G – R. Leaversuch. “How to Use those Fancy Ultrasonic Welding Controls” Plastics Technology. Oct. 2002.
H – M. Knights. “Graphical Analysis Helps Find and Fix Ultrasonic Welding Problems” Plastics Technology. Sept. 2005
I – P. Golko. “Boost Performance, Speed, Economy with Servo-Controlled Welding” Plastics Technology. Aug. 2011
