Abstract: A method is for additive layer manufacturing an article from a material which can be rendered solid locally by the application of a focused beam of laser radiation. The method includes providing at least two laser beams, providing a scanner for each laser beam for scanning each laser beam over an entire planar field, providing a support moveable step wise to support material within the field, scanning the laser beams simultaneously but separated over the field to render solid the desired portions of material contained in the field to perform a manufacturing cycle and stepping the support after each cycle. At least one scanner is tilted with respect to the common planar field, and the method further includes the step of tilting the focal plane of the laser beam from the said at least one scanner.

Abstract: A method of forming an article includes forming a layer of a mixture of at least two distinct metal powders selected such that when combined they are chemically in the proportions of a superalloy containing a gamma prime phase, and fusing the powders locally without diffusion to define the shape of a part of the article such that the materials of the distinct metal powders remain substantially chemically segregated forming regions of different chemical composition. The method further includes repeating the forming and fusing until the derived article is formed, and heat treating the finished article such that at least one of the distinct separate materials diffuses to form a gamma prime phase containing superalloy with the other.

Abstract: A method is for additive layer manufacturing an article from a material which can be rendered solid locally by the application of a focused beam of laser radiation. The method includes providing at least two laser beams, providing a scanner for each laser beam for scanning each laser beam over an entire planar field, providing a support moveable step wise to support material within the field, scanning the laser beams simultaneously but separated over the field to render solid the desired portions of material contained in the field to perform a manufacturing cycle and stepping the support after each cycle. At least one scanner is tilted with respect to the common planar field, and the method further includes the step of tilting the focal plane of the laser beam from the said at least one scanner.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for forming a laminate of pre-preg composite material comprises supply means (200) to supply pre-preg strip (400) to a stationary mandrel (300). The pre-preg strip (400) is formed into a tube (410) on the mandrel (300), and is driven to both rotate relative to the mandrel and to move axially along the mandrel. In this way it can be dispensed from an end of the mandrel (300) and formed in to a further pre-preg strip (420) with off-axis fibres.

Abstract: A method of forming an article includes forming a layer of a mixture of at least two distinct metal powders selected such that when combined they are chemically in the proportions of a superalloy containing a gamma prime phase, and fusing the powders locally without diffusion to define the shape of a part of the article such that the materials of the distinct metal powders remain substantially chemically segregated forming regions of different chemical composition. The method further includes repeating the forming and fusing until the derived article is formed, and heat treating the finished article such that at least one of the distinct separate materials diffuses to form a gamma prime phase containing superalloy with the other.

Abstract: A method of forming an article includes forming a layer of a mixture of at least two distinct metal powders selected such that when combined they are chemically in the proportions of a superalloy containing a gamma prime phase, and fusing the powders locally without diffusion to define the shape of a part of the article such that the materials of the distinct metal powders remain substantially chemically segregated forming regions of different chemical composition. The method further includes repeating the forming and fusing until the derived article is formed, and heat treating the finished article such that at least one of the distinct separate materials diffuses to form a gamma prime phase containing superalloy with the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of verifying a scan speed in a laser scanning system. The method includes modulating the laser of the system to form a periodically modulated feature from which the actual scan speed can be read or deduced.

Abstract: In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for improving synchronization of communications between a first port and a second port is provided, the method performed at the first port and comprising: inserting skip symbols into a transmission stream for transmissions from the first port to the second port, wherein the skip symbols are inserted at a first average frequency level; detecting a lack of synchronization between the first port and the second port; and inserting skip symbols into the transmission stream at a second average frequency level greater than the first average frequency level in response to the detecting.

Abstract: In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for improving synchronization of communications between a first port and a second port is provided, the method performed at the first port and comprising: inserting skip symbols into a transmission stream for transmissions from the first port to the second port, wherein the skip symbols are inserted at a first average frequency level; detecting a lack of synchronization between the first port and the second port; and inserting skip symbols into the transmission stream at a second average frequency level greater than the first average frequency level in response to the detecting.

Abstract: A method of forming an article includes forming a layer of a mixture of at least two distinct metal powders selected such that when combined they are chemically in the proportions of a superalloy containing a gamma prime phase, and fusing the powders locally without diffusion to define the shape of a part of the article such that the materials of the distinct metal powders remain substantially chemically segregated forming regions of different chemical composition. The method further includes repeating the forming and fusing until the derived article is formed, and heat treating the finished article such that at least one of the distinct separate materials diffuses to form a gamma prime phase containing superalloy with the other.

Abstract: The document management system has a Native Template database including a list of templates for one or more types of documents having common characteristics and a Conversion Database including a list of one or more data points associated with each listed document type, one or more descriptive text entries associated with each listed data point, and proximity range information relating to the location of the data point within the descriptive text. The locations of words, sentences, paragraphs, and sections within the externally generated document are recorded and a document type is selected from the Native Template database that has common characteristics. A data point is selected from the template and the introduced document is searched for Possible Data Points. A determination is made as to whether Possible Data Point values are located within a Proximity Range. A cumulative Evaluation Score is calculated for each Possible Data Point value. The Possible Data Point with the highest score is recorded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of verifying a scan speed in a laser scanning system. The method includes modulating the laser of the system to form a periodically modulated feature from which the actual scan speed can be read or deduced.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for analyzing an externally generated document for use in a document management system having a Native Template database including a list of templates for one or more types of documents having common characteristics and a Conversion Database including a list of one or more data points associated with each listed document type, one or more descriptive text entries associated with each listed data point, and proximity range information relating to the location of the data point within the descriptive text. The externally generated document is introduced into the system. The locations of words, sentences, paragraphs, and sections within the document are recorded. A document type is selected from the Native Template database that has characteristics in common with the externally generated document. A data point is selected from the template. The introduced document is searched for Possible Data Points based on the Data Type of the selected data point in the Conversion Database.

Abstract: This invention relates to magnetic assemblies and, in particular, to assemblies which are useful for inducing magnetic fields within vacuum chambers. Thus a magnetic assembly, generally indicated at 10, includes the rectangular magnetically soft core 11 carrying windings 12, which together form the main planar electromagnet, generally indicated at 13, and immediately adjacent the edges of the magnet 13 are placed auxiliary coils 14. Coils 14 are each formed from windings 15 wound around oblate cores 16 and it would be noted that they project upwardly above the upper surface of the planar magnet 13. Pole pieces 17 are attached to the ends of the planar magnet 13 and these two project above the upper surface of the planar magnet 13. The assembly is completed by mounting brackets 18.

Abstract: A method is described for forming sharp tips on thin wires, in particular phosphor bronze wires of diameters such as one-thousandth inch used to contact micron size Schottky barrier diodes, which enables close control of tip shape and which avoids the use of highly toxic solutions. The method includes dipping and end (12) of a phosphor bronze wire (14) into a dilute solution (16) of sulfamic acid and applying a current through the wire to electrochemically etch it. The humidity in the room is controlled to a level of less than 50%, and the voltage applied between the wire (14) and another electrode (18) in the solution is a half wave rectified voltage. The current through the wire is monitored, and the process is stopped when the current falls to a predetermined low level.