Joining by laser shock forming: realization and acting pressures

The need to implement more functionality on the same space drives miniaturization and makes hybrid joints under various conditions also in the micro range necessary. Existing solutions often have restrictions due to the principle of joining. Thus, in this article a new high speed joining method for the micro range is presented, which is realized by a plastic forming process based on TEA-CO2-laser induced shockwaves. In a first step it is shown how sheet–sheet joints can be realized with this method. In order to get knowledge of basic process parameter and for further application of the process, the near-by-field of acting pressure of the initiated shock wave is measured in open and tube environment. The results show that constant maximum acting pressure conditions appear in a tube, while pressure characteristics show high reflection phenomena. Furthermore, it is determined that the ignition point of the TEA-CO2-laser induced plasma out of aluminum is about 8 mm above the surface.