Principal investigator: Ben Campbell
University: Robert Morris University
Industry partner: MECCO
This project will enhance a partnership between Robert Morris University (RMU) and MECCO (a local integrator of laser marking and welding systems) to demonstrate the feasibility of creating laser welding prototypes from 3D printed parts to prove the effectiveness and efficiency of laser welding to manufacturers. A barrier to entry is the inability to demonstrate the process if a customer’s part has not been designed for laser welding. A full demonstration could require extensive design work and expensive fabrication of molds for a small run to show feasibility. With this study, we hope to show that a 3D printed part could be substituted for injection molding, which would allow easy modification and production of test pieces. RMU would also be able to develop an injection mold for a custom universal test vessel that would allow for shear, tensile, and burst testing of laser welds for various plastics.