Method for producing coaxial cables having a thin-walled, radially closed outer conductor

Abstract

A method for the continuous production of coaxial cables () having a thin-walled, radially closed outer conductor of nonferrous metal comprises supplying a flat strip of the nonferrous metal to a shaping apparatus (), wherein the thickness of the strip corresponds to the wall thickness of the coaxial cable. The shaping apparatus is configured to continuously shape the supplied flat strip into a form corresponding to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and around a cable core supplied before the outer conductor is closed. After the shaping, two opposite edges of the flat strip lie flush against one another in a contact region and are continuously welded to one another by a welding apparatus () by means of a laser, which radiates light having a wavelength smaller than 600 nm. The laser heats a point in a welding region that has a diameter smaller than 20% of the cross-sectional dimension of the coaxial cable. The welded coaxial cable is drawn off from the welding region and, after introducing a parallel or helical corrugation, is received in a receiving device ().