Re: CNC and Welding Polyethelyne

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, CL <datac@l...> wrote:

> Bill Higdon wrote:
>
> >Hans,
> >I remember watching somone hand weld up a Poly RV holding tank

many

> >years ago, the gun used a hot air blast and a rod of the same type

of

> >material as used to make the tank.
> >
> (snip)
>
> I have used some of those "hot air guns" for doing that on Auto

body

> parts. The problem is that it takes way too long to heat up both

the

> plastic "Rod" and the surrounding plastic so that it

actually "Welds"

> the parts together.
>
> So, on a CNC machine, I see this to be an additional challenge.
>
> I know longer use the heat gun at all, but rather a small jewelers

torch

> aimed directly at the "crotch" of the surfaces I am welding

together and

> the "Rod" I am adding. In this case, I am assured of a good weld no
> different than obtaining good penetration when "Gas" welding with a

rod.

>
> What came to my mind IF this was going to be a CNC application, was

to

> consider that "Water Plasma" device talked about earlier for the

Flame

> Source. It might allow you to make very accurate "Heat Adjustments"

as

> compared to what is available with a simple torch. Then all you

need to

> do is to "Spool" in a proper amount of Plastic via Software

control,

> along with the Axis moving. This way, everything is adjustable.

When I

> say "Spool" in plastic, Imagine your Weed eater spool snapped onto

a

> stepper motor forcing the plastic down a ceramic tube to the joint.

If

> you want to "Add" more "rod", just move the Spool motor a smidget

faster

> than gantry speed !
>
> Sounds like a cool CNC project and very possible if just to join
> straight joints. Other than that, it may get interesting !
>
> Chris L

Feed just like a MIG welder. They do use mini- torch set ups for non
contact robotic soldering. (BTW error in an earlier post, the
soldering requires about a 15 watt laser diode).