Abstract: A wire guide and a laser wire-processing device that includes a wire guide are provided. The laser wire-processing device includes a housing and an aperture in a side of the housing, wherein the aperture defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a backstop arranged in the housing and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the backstop defining a wire-contact surface in a facing relationship with the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a wire guide arranged in the housing to manipulate a wire inserted through the aperture into a desired position relative to the longitudinal axis between the aperture and the backstop. The laser wire-processing device also includes a laser operable to direct a laser beam toward an insulation layer of the wire. The wire guide could be a tube arranged in the device or a backstop guide.

Abstract: In order to provide a laser irradiation system, a method for removing a coating, and a laser irradiation apparatus capable of efficiently removing a coating on a surface of a structure and recovering the removed substance using suction, a laser head (3) is configured from an optical system (4) for irradiating laser beam (30), a suctioning means (33) for suctioning removed matter (60) produced at the point where the laser beam (30) is directed, and an attachment (5) configured to be capable of abutting a surface (20) of a structure, the optical system (4) being operated to scan the irradiation point of the laser beam so as to draw a trajectory of a circle having a radius r1 around the optical axis of the laser beam (30) on a surface substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: In a method for controlling an irradiation system (20) for use in an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional work piece and comprising a first and a second irradiation unit (22a, 22b) a first irradiation area (18a) is defined on a surface of a carrier (16) adapted to receive a layer of raw material powder. A layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) in the first irradiation area (18a) is irradiated by the first irradiation unit (22a) of the irradiation system (20), wherein the operation of the first irradiation unit (22a) is controlled in such a manner that the raw material powder is pre-heated.

Abstract: In an apparatus known as a wire bonder, a new type of one-piece joint element (20) is used as the articulated link (G) between a support unit (pivoting rocker 30) and a bonding unit (10) that carries a capillary (12). One or more such joint elements (20) define a virtual pivot axis (A2) for the unit (10), which lies outside the unit and thus provides a passage in the apparatus wide enough for relatively wide workpieces (chips 1 on substrate 2). A joint element (20a) is made in one piece and has at least two elastically flexible blades (22a) converging toward each other relative to a symmetry plane (S), and the blades are connected to each other by two rigid sections (23a, 24a). One of the rigid sections (23a) is attached to (and removable from) the support unit (30), the other (24a) is attached to (and removable from) the bonding unit (10), so that the joint element (20) is easy to fit or exchange.

Abstract: A welding management apparatus for use with a tube production machine. A workpiece fed from a roll of metal strip is formed in a tubular formation having side surfaces opposite to each other. An upsetting pressure is applied to joint the opposite side surfaces of the workpiece at a jointing point. A high frequency power is supplied to the workpiece to weld the opposite side surfaces at the jointing point so as to produce a metal tube member. The welding management apparatus comprises a camera positioned to have a visual field including the jointing point for producing a video signal indicative of an image including an area luminous with a pre-arc produced in the visual field. An image processor converts the video signal into a luminance distribution pattern. An inference unit is provided for inferring a defective welding condition based upon the luminance distribution pattern. The inference unit includes an alarm unit for producing an alarm when a defective welding condition is inferred.