What s the difference between hot plate welding and ultrasonic assembly?
Ultrasonics and hot plate welding are heat-related processes that focus and direct heat/energy to the part interface. The main difference is in how the heat is created and transferred. Hot plate welding uses a metal platen heated by electrodes to transfer heat to the two plastic part halves. Both part halves touch the platen and the plastic becomes molten. The platen retracts, the parts are pushed together, and a bond is created between the two parts. Ultrasonic assembly uses a piezoelectric transducer to convert high frequency electrical energy into high frequency sound vibrations that are transmitted through two plastic parts under pressure. The vibrations, along with the pressure/force on the parts create frictional heat at the parts joint interface, causing the parts to melt at the joint. Within seconds the plastic cools, forming a molecular bond between the two parts.
