Abstract: A welding current source for supplying an electric welding current circuit with electric current and electric voltage for carrying out an electric welding process, wherein the welding current source is provided with a power conditioning device for conditioning electric current supplied to the welding current source for suitability in an electric welding process, wherein furthermore on a housing of the welding current source there are provided two pole contact devices, each of which protrude from the housing, and the welding current source is equipped with a cooling device, with which thermal heat loss released by the welding current source can be dissipated. In the case of such a welding current source and despite sufficient cooling of the electrical components, it shall be possible that the housing of the welding current source can be designed to be also smaller than before.

Abstract: A method for producing microcracks in an interior of a composite structure includes: providing or producing the composite structure which has a solid body and at least one metallic coating and/or electrical components situated or provided on one side of the solid body, the solid body containing or being made of silicon carbide (SiC); and producing modifications in the interior of the solid body. Laser radiation is introduced into a flat surface of the solid body to cause multiphoton excitation which brings about plasma generation. The modifications are effected by the plasma in the form of a material transformation which generates compressive stresses in the solid body, thereby developing subcritical cracks in a surrounding area of a particular modification. The laser radiation is introduced into the solid body in pulses having an intensity which reaches a maximum within 10 ns after a start of a particular pulse.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a varifocal laser processing system and method based on a variable light spot diffractive element. The system includes a laser device for generating a laser, a collimating lens for changing a light path and a diffractive optical element module for controlling light spot focal point distribution. The laser emitted by the laser device passes through the collimating lens to irradiate the diffractive optical element module, and the laser focused by the diffractive optical element module irradiates a to-be-processed workpiece; and the diffractive optical element module includes at least two DOE lenses oppositely distributed in an axial direction and a rotary actuator driving the DOE lenses to rotate. The rotary actuator drives at least one DOE lens to rotate with a central axis as a rotating center, thereby changing a position of a focal point generated after the laser is focused by the diffractive optical element module.

Abstract: Systems for controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold a receptacle containing the contents and a dilution liquid inlet configured to supply a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a perforator configured to perforate the receptacle and form a product outlet from the receptacle for the liquid product and an agitator configured to impart motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle that increases a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by at least a portion of dilution liquid, when supplied, relative to a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by the portion of dilution liquid without the imparted motion.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for preheating and removing surface oxidation of welding wire using electric arcs one via three or more tungsten electrodes connected to a polyphaser preheating power source is disclosed. Electric arc preheating of welding wire allows increased efficiency and deposition rates.

Abstract: An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power, and to output the welding-type power via a welding-type circuit; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of at least one component of the welding-type power supply; and stray current detection circuitry configured to detect stray welding-type current based on the measured temperature of the at least one component.

Abstract: A method for calculating the humidity level in a cooking apparatus is disclosed. The method includes heating a food load in a cooking cavity of the cooking apparatus and selectively activating a convection fan in the cooking cavity. The method further includes monitoring a humidity signal detected by a humidity sensing apparatus in response to the activation of the convection fan. As a result of the activation of the convection fan, the method may determine an actual humidity level from a plurality of humidity levels based on a change in the humidity signal.

Abstract: An apparatus to provide welding power. The apparatus may include a direct current-alternate current (DC-AC) power converter to output a primary current and a transformer stage. The transformer stage may include at least one power transformer to receive the primary current from the (DC-AC) power converter on a primary side of the transformer stage and to output a first voltage through a first rectifier and a first set of secondary windings disposed on a secondary side of the transformer stage. The transformer stage may further include an auxiliary set of secondary windings disposed on the secondary side to output a second voltage. The apparatus may also include a pair of active unidirectional switches disposed on the secondary side to receive the second voltage from the auxiliary set of secondary windings.

Abstract: Method for scanning a workpiece surface (2A) of a metal workpiece (2), in which a blowtorch (3) having a welding wire electrode (4) is moved relative to the workpiece surface (2A) to determine scanning values and a wire end (4A) of the welding wire electrode (4) is repeatedly moved towards the workpiece surface (2A), in each case until contact with the metal workpiece (2) at a scanning position (P) on the workpiece surface (2A) of the metal workpiece (2) is detected, and the wire end (4A) of the welding wire electrode (4) is subsequently moved back, the blowtorch (3) detecting scanning values (d) at scanning positions (P), at least in some cases multiple times, to determine scanning measurement errors.

Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a main body defining a cooking chamber. The example pellet grill further includes a grease deflection bar assembly located within the main body. the grease deflection bar assembly includes a first rack removably positioned on first tabs of the main body, a second rack removably positioned on second tabs of the main body, and a grease deflection bar extending between and removably positioned on the first and second racks.

Abstract: A system that uses a scalable array of individually controllable laser beams that are generated by a fiber array system to process materials into an object. The adaptive control of individual beams may include beam power, focal spot width, centroid position, scanning orientation, amplitude and frequency, of individual beams. Laser beam micro scanner modules (MSMs) are arranged into 2D arrays or matrices. During operation of the MSMs, a fiber tip that projects the laser beam is displaced along the x and y-axis in order to scan the focal spot. Each MSM within a matrix can process a corresponding cell (e.g., one square centimeter) during focal spot scanning, and the plurality of MSMs may be operated in parallel to process a plurality of corresponding cells (e.g., with a 10×10 matrix of MSM, 100 cm2) without rastering or otherwise repositioning the assembly over the build surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods of additive manufacturing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer control apparatus accesses multiple planned build patterns corresponding to multiple build layers of a three-dimensional (3D) part to be additively manufactured. A metal deposition apparatus deposits metal material to form at least a portion of a build layer of the 3D part. The metal material is deposited as a beaded weave pattern, based on a planned path of a planned build pattern, under control of the computer control apparatus. A weave width, a weave frequency, and a weave dwell of the beaded weave pattern may be dynamically adjusted during deposition of the beaded weave pattern. The adjustments are under control of the computer control apparatus based on the planned build pattern, as a width of the build layer varies along a length dimension of the build layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of welding systems and methods for reducing spatter in pulsed welding are disclosed. A welding power source includes a first welding output stud to be electrically connected to a consumable welding electrode and a second welding output stud to be electrically connected to a workpiece. Power electronics generate welding output current pulses. A switching network is connected between the power electronics and the first welding output stud. A controller is connected between the power electronics and the switching network. The controller controls the timing of each welding output current pulse and switches the switching network back and forth between a first welding output current flowing state and a second welding output current impeding state based on the timing. An increase in a decay rate of a trailing edge of each welding output current pulse is effected during the second welding output current impeding state.

Abstract: An optical unit fora laser beam for laser machining of a workpiece is disclosed. With particular application to a laser beam, the optical unit may be applied to a high-power laser beam and comprise an optical element for the optical imaging of the laser beam, and two protective glasses that are transparent for the laser beam, the outer edges of which protective glasses being enclosed in an airtight manner by a holder in such a way that they form an interior space with the holder, the optical element also being arranged in the interior space. A laser machining device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is an evaluation system including: an analog-to-digital converting section comprised of a programmable circuit and configured to convert an analog signal, the analog signal being acquired by a physical quantity acquiring section and indicative of a time-series change of at least one of (i) welding current, welding voltage, or load applied to pieces to be welded and (ii) a displacement, during welding, of a welding head; and an evaluating section configured to determine, based on a digital signal, whether or not the time-series change satisfies a predetermined condition, wherein configuration data for configuring the programmable circuit is arranged to be changeable by a user.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for obtaining a desirable shielding gas flow in a welding device. The system includes a user interface configured for a user to input the size of the nozzle, a processor that is configured to calculate a desirable flow rate of shielding gas based at least in part on the input nozzle size, and a flow regulator that is configured to control the flow of the shielding gas in order to obtain the desirable flow rate.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling power to a water heater. The method comprises providing the water heater in a locked state, wherein at least one heating element of the water heater is inoperable when the water heater is in the locked state, coupling a digital key module to a communications port of the water heater, and receiving a digital key from the digital key module through the communications port. The method comprises coupling an electrical grid controller to the water heater through the communications port and placing the water heater in an unlocked state, wherein the at least one heating element of the water heater is operable when the water heater is in the unlocked state.

Abstract: A wire feeder assembly of the type generally associated with an electric arc welding machine including a driveshaft in rotatable communication with an individually servo motor at one end and a worm gear assembly at the other end is provided. Due to the assembly’s slim design, a series of assemblies can be deployed on a metal plate cladding machine spaced approximate 4 inches apart, which facilitates the construction of previously unattainable welding patterns.

Abstract: A welding method using embodiments of electrodes (100) with coaxial power feed. The electrode comprises a metal cylinder (105) defining a hollow core (110). The hollow core provides a conduit for delivering core feed materials (150) therebetween via a delivery means (200). The cylinder may be formed of pure metals or extrudable alloys for forming a desired superalloy material composition; while the delivered core feed materials comprise a balance of compositional constituents for forming the desired superalloy material composition. The resulting deposit achieves the desired superalloy composition as a result of at least a combination of the cylinder materials and core feed materials. The electrode may further include a flux coating (120) surrounding the cylinder. The flux material may also contribute to the desired superalloy composition as a result of the weld operation.

Abstract: A biodegradable microwave susceptor and constructs incorporating the susceptor are disclosed for heating a food item in a microwave oven. The biodegradable microwave susceptor includes a patterned susceptor layer of metal on a biodegradable substrate. Selected areas of the susceptor layer may be demetallized to remove susceptor material. The susceptor may be incorporated into a construct for containing or supporting a food item to be heated.