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Application:
Wire frame sunglasses, manufactured by Bausch & Lomb,
Co., in Rochester, N.Y.
The soldering story:
Bausch & Lomb uses the brazing process to produce the ten joints needed for the Ray-Ban and B1 wire frames available in its sunglasses product line. The component metal parts of frame fronts, which consist of an eyewire, endpieces, a bridge, a brace and a browbar, are constructed of nickel or a nickel alloy. To form the sunglass front, they are joined together by induction brazing in a series of steps. At each step of the process, they are held in place by a jig.
The Handy & Harman
/ Lucas - Milhaupt brazing filler metals typically used for
the joints are 50% silver - bearing alloys such as Braze 505.
In some instances, Handy Flux or Handy Flux Type 8-1 is used
to insure optimal wetting action. When the brazing process
is complete, the fronts are pickled to remove any discoloration,
polished, and then plated in the desired color. The brazed
joints in the finished frames are virtually invisible to the
eye.
   
- The bridge of a sunglass frame is brazed.
- Various metal frame parts are joined during the induction brazing process.
- Handy & Harman/Lucas-Milhaupt filler metal in wire
form is used.
- Brazing provides invisible joints as this browbar is brazed.
- A total of 10 joints are formed during the fully automated process.
When people buy sunglasses,
appearance is key in their selection process. Brazing's ability
to produce invisible joints makes it the only logical choice
in metal joining options for the Bausch & Lomb line. Plus,
the strength and durability of brazed joints help insure the
sunglass frames hold up to the rigors of regular use.
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