LASER IN FOOD PACKING

[bman]

I WANT TO USE CO2 LASERS TO SEAL 2MIL PLASTIC SHEETS IN A VACUUM CHAMBER FOR SEALING FOOD PRODUCTS. THE TWO LAYER PLASTIC (EACH 2 MIL THICK)COVER A PITA LIKE BREAD AND AFTER THE AIR IS SUCKED OUT, THE LASER TRIMS IT IN A CIRCULAR EDGE HEATING THE PLASTIC TO FUSE AND SEAL.
CAN SOME ONE TELL ME WHAT POWER RANGE I'D NEED FOR THE LASER AND AVAILABILITY. THE LASER SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF GIVING HEAT FOR 10 TO 16 HRS WITH INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF ON FOR 15 SEC, OFF FOR 4 SECONDS.
ANY INFO IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

[IRstuff]

Can't see how you're going to make that work without mechanical pressure. The object inside will tend to force the sheets apart, particularly if the entire thing is in vacuum.

TTFN

 

[canyoncruz]

the main problem you have is that material you are lasing is optically transparent. You will have to find out its absorption characteristics, then see if a there is a laser out there that can do the job at that wavelength that wont be too big or powerful - will give you osha nightmares.

next, you will have to develop a pulse profile that will heat and not blast the material. As of late, there are several companies working on laser solder, heatin metal enough, but no too fast, to locally melt solder. I would suggest a hot rod version of a heater