Orientation vs. Inertial Spin Welding

Orientation (servo motor) Spin Welding

Inertial (pneumatic motor) Spin Welding
Higher weld power capability. System allows rotation to begin with part to part contact under the full force available from the actuator. Lower weld power capability. System requires full RPM and inertia to be built up prior to part to part contact. Results in higher required RPM to create same weld as orientation (servo motor) based systems.
Higher cost. Servo motors and control systems increase equipment price significantly. Lower cost. Simple pneumatic motors and simplified controls allow lower equipment pricing.
Position-based part to part indexing possible. Servo control allows indexing control of as little as 0.5°. No control possible of part to part indexing. Rotation ceases when all stored inertia is released into the parts which can vary significantly enough from weld to weld to prevent any indexing control.
Lower operating speeds available may limit joint strength on some soft materials (application and material dependant). Higher operating speeds often improve joint strength on lower durometer materials such as PE and PP.
Requires less velocity (RPM) which can significantly improve weld strength for semi-crystalline engineering resins such as PA, POM, PBT, PPO & PET.  Rotation can be halted under tight control prior to material re-solidification. Requires higher velocity (RPM) which can result in lower weld strength for semi-crystalline engineering resins such as PA, POM, PBT, PPO & PET. RPM required for these resins must be high enough to create heat but low enough to prevent weld fracture due to excessive rotations after molten material has begun to re-solidify.
Most process energy is transferred to the part, however some efficiency is lost in that the motor requires energy to build up to target RPM and to halt motor when target position/depth/time is reached. All process energy (inertia) is transferred to joint area as part to part contact causes rotation to cease, similar to a brake.
Improved process control allows welding by Orientation, Collapse Distance, Absolute Distance or Time.  Process limits (windows) available on any method not already controlled for welding. Limited process control allows only absolute distance control if parts are under 1.0" diameter and optional electromechanical brake is purchased. No user control or process limits on weld Orientation, Collapse Distance or Time. Limits exist only for final part height (absolute distance plus hold/cooling distance only).
Low compressed air requirement due to minimal volume of air required to move actuator up/down only. High compressed air requirement due to large volume of air required for pneumatic motor and movement of actuator up/down.
Higher power requirement as power is generated electrically (servo motor). Low power requirement as power is generated pneumatically.
Easier to automate as the driver rotational position is re-indexed each cycle to insure repeatable starting/home position for automatic loading of spinning part half into the driver. More difficult to automate as the starting driver rotational position is different each cycle.  If spinning part half is designed with drive features, the part may be either difficult or impossible to load automatically into the driver prior to the start of each cycle.  However, parts designed to interface with a 10Ëš engagement driver (no drive features) and no orientation requirements can most often easily automatically loaded/welded.

Our existing line of spin welders includes four unique models. Orientation and inertial versions are available. From manually loaded and unloaded machines to semi and fully automated in-line systems, each of our spin welders is designed to accommodate a specific range of application requirements.

Critical Spin (Orientation or Inertial) Welder Parameters:

  • RPM
  • Contact Force
  • Weld Force
  • Weld Collapse/Absolute Distance
  • Weld Time
  • Hold/Cool Time
  • Hold/Cool Force