Ultrasonic welding is an option for the finishing and assembly of plastic injection molded parts. Ultrasound means sound at frequencies above the range of human hearing (approximately 20 kHz). The word is often used as a nickname for ultrasound imaging, and there are also other applications in both the natural and the man-made world.
Ultrasound Images
Modern obstetrics uses ultrasound to create images. Ultrasonic waves bounce off shapes that we cannot see to become images that we can see. Ultrasound imaging is also known as sonography, and became available in the early 1960s. It is now a normal part of prenatal care.
Ultrasound in Nature
Some animals use ultrasonic frequencies – ultrasonic for humans, that is! Dolphins and bats are two examples. Using echolocation, they emit sounds that we cannot hear and listen for echoes that reflect back from their cries, to locate food and find their way in the dark or underwater.
Ultrasonic Cleaners
Ultrasonic cleaners use high frequency vibrations to agitate fluids and create millions of tiny bubbles on the surface of any object put into the fluid. When these bubbles collapse, the energy released scrubs jewelry, watch parts, or any other items that are difficult to clean by hand.
Ultrasonic Welding
Ultrasonic vibrations also create friction to produce heat. To join two plastic parts, vibrations above our hearing range will heat and melt the plastic and fuse the parts together.
This creates a clean, strong weld joint. There’s no soldering material involved, so there are no contaminants, and the weld is watertight. This makes ultrasonic welding ideal for joining biomedical device components.
With superior equipment like Branson ultrasonic welders, Proto Plastics has the people, equipment, and experience you need for cost-effective plastic injection molding plus a variety of finishing and assembly operations. To learn more, contact us today.