Abstract: An electric machine may have a stator and a rotor including stacked plurality of electrical steel laminations forming a slot including a first end and opposing sides, the first end defined by a bridge extending between electrical steel on opposing sides of the slot, the bridge being located between the first end of the slot and an outer diameter surface of the rotor and beneath the outer diameter surface of the rotor, the bridge forming a base of a channel open at an outer diameter surface of the rotor.

Abstract: A method of making a die cast part having high wear resistance is provided. The method comprises providing a mold and an insert pin. The mold comprises an interior surface defining a cavity. The mold comprises a bore formed through the interior surface. The insert pin has a magnetic core having a magnetic field and a barrier disposed about the magnetic core. The insert pin is disposed in the bore and extends into the cavity. The method comprises filling the mold with metallic material such that the metallic material is in contact with the insert pin to define a contact layer. The method comprises modifying iron content within the contact layer with the magnetic field to define an outer layer and an inner layer formed between the outer layer and the insert pin. The inner layer has 3-5 wt % Fe and the outer layer has 0.01-0.5 wt % Fe.

Abstract: A differential carrier and ring gear assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly comprises a differential carrier, a ring gear, and a weld nugget. The differential carrier comprises an outer surface including a first contact face having a weld end extending to a root end. The first contact face has a first slot formed on a first radial portion thereof. The ring gear is disposed about the differential carrier and comprises an inner side having an inner surface. The inner side has a stop flange abutting the root end. The inner surface comprises a second contact face disposed on the first contact face such that the root end is in abutment with the second end. The first and second hollow channels define a pocket therebetween and the first slot defines a first vent hole for venting. The weld nugget is disposed between the first and second contact faces.

Abstract: The concepts described herein provide a method, system, and apparatus for joining, via welding, first and second members fabricated from an aluminum alloy including aluminum, zinc, and manganese, such as 7000-series aluminum alloys, and a resultant workpiece. A junction is formed by a first member being disposed contiguously to a second member. A welding machine generates a weld pool at the junction that includes liquified aluminum alloy. An ultrasonic transducer directs ultrasonic energy in proximity to the weld pool. In some embodiments, an electro-magnetic transducer directs electro-magnetic energy in proximity to the weld pool. The first member is fused to the second member at the junction upon solidification of the weld pool.

Abstract: A system for increasing joint strength and reducing embrittlement in a resistance spot weld of metal workpieces is disclosed. The system comprises a stackup of first and second metal workpieces, and an interface member disposed between the first and second metal workpieces. The interface member comprises a peripheral wall defining a hollow inner portion. The peripheral wall has a first open end extending to a second open end. The first open end is in contact with the first metal workpiece defining a first weld portion thereon. The second open end is in contact with the second metal workpiece defining a second weld portion thereon. The system further comprises a first electrode configured to contact the first metal workpiece to heat the peripheral wall at the first weld portion and join the first metal workpiece with the first open end of the peripheral wall.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes strengthened structural elements effected through surface alloying and heating via an induction heating fixture. A rotor includes laminations formed to have internal cavities and structural members adjacent the cavities. A number of the laminations are stacked to form a lamination stack. An alloying material is applied to the lamination stack at the structural members. The lamination stack is placed in a fixture so that an inductor extends along the structural members and cooling elements extend through the cavities. A current is applied to the inductor to heat the structural members, alloying the alloying material into the structural members.

Abstract: A damper for suppressing vibrations of a crankshaft of a vehicle is disclosed. The damper comprises a hub having a circular wall extending about a rotational axis to define a bore formed therethrough. The wall comprises a step portion radially extending therefrom and having a first arcuate portion formed thereon. The hub comprises a body portion radially extending from the wall to a lip to define an open cavity. The damper comprises a weld nugget disposed between the hub and the plate. The weld nugget has a root extending therethrough concurrent with the rotational axis to join the hub and the plate. The root has tip defining a profile such that the hollow channel is disposed at an angle tangent to the profile to lessen cracking due to stress.

Abstract: A method of joining a first piece of an automotive component that is made from a first material to a second piece of the automotive component that is made from a second material includes machining a fay surface onto each of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, cleaning the fay surfaces of each of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, placing a metal filler between the fay surfaces of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, holding the first and second pieces together with the metal filler positioned between the fay surfaces of the first and second pieces, and passing an electric current through the first piece, the metal filler and the second piece to melt the metal filler and weld the first piece to the second piece.

Abstract: Angled, single laser weld and a method of forming an angled, single laser weld including arranging a first and second faying surfaces of a first and second component adjacently to form an interface between the components; irradiating at least one of the first and second components at the interface with a laser, wherein the first faying surface defines a plane formed at an angle alpha in the range of +/?5 degrees to 60 degrees from an axis A perpendicular to the first front surface and the second faying surface matches the first faying surface; and forming a junction at the interface with an hourglass shaped weld.

Abstract: A valve seat formed within an aluminum engine component includes a valve seat surface machined within the aluminum engine component, a layer of copper alloy material laser clad onto the valve seat surface of the aluminum engine component, the layer of copper alloy material having a thickness of less than 2.0 millimeters, and a layer of copper alloy/tool steel carbide material laser clad onto the layer of copper alloy material, the layer of copper alloy/tool steel carbide material having an average thickness of less than 0.5 millimeters, wherein the layer of copper alloy/tool steel carbide material has an outer surface that is machined to a final valve seat profile.

Abstract: The concepts described herein provide a method, system, and apparatus for joining, via welding, first and second members fabricated from an aluminum alloy including aluminum, zinc, and manganese, such as 7000-series aluminum alloys, and a resultant workpiece. A junction is formed by a first member being disposed contiguously to a second member. A welding machine generates a weld pool at the junction that includes liquified aluminum alloy. An ultrasonic transducer directs ultrasonic energy in proximity to the weld pool. In some embodiments, an electro-magnetic transducer directs electro-magnetic energy in proximity to the weld pool. The first member is fused to the second member at the junction upon solidification of the weld pool.

Abstract: A method of welding a component made from a ferrous alloy to a component made from an aluminum alloy includes machining and cleaning a fay surface on the ferrous alloy component, machining and cleaning a fay surface on the aluminum alloy component, depositing a layer of copper alloy material onto the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component, forming a weld groove on at least one of the layer of copper alloy material deposited on the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component and the fay surface of the aluminum alloy component, and laser welding the layer of copper alloy deposited on the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component and the fay surface of the aluminum alloy component to one another.

Abstract: A system to attach valve seat inserts to an aluminum cylinder head of an automobile vehicle includes a cylinder head of an automobile vehicle engine having a valve seat portion. A valve seat insert is positioned in the valve seat portion of the cylinder head. A fusion bond is created between the valve seat insert and the valve seat portion by laser welding thereby fusing the valve seat insert to the valve seat portion.

Abstract: A method of laser welding a steel substrate and a ductile iron substrate is disclosed along with a laser welded assembly that may be formed by practicing the disclosed method. The disclosed laser welding method involves forming a laser weld joint between the steel and ductile iron substrates. The laser weld joint includes a fusion zone comprised of austenite ferrous alloy that has a composition derived from intermixing molten portions of the steel and ductile iron substrates as part of the laser welding process. The austenite ferrous alloy that constitutes the fusion zone of the laser weld joint has a carbon content of 2 wt % or more and a nickel equivalent of 60% or more and can be achieved without preheating the steel and ductile iron substrates prior to welding or using a filler wire to introduce a foreign metal into the molten substrate material created by the laser beam.

Abstract: A system for increasing joint strength and reducing embrittlement in a resistance spot weld of metal workpieces is disclosed. The system comprises a stackup of first and second metal workpieces, and an interface member disposed between the first and second metal workpieces. The interface member comprises a peripheral wall defining a hollow inner portion. The peripheral wall has a first open end extending to a second open end. The first open end is in contact with the first metal workpiece defining a first weld portion thereon. The second open end is in contact with the second metal workpiece defining a second weld portion thereon. The system further comprises a first electrode configured to contact the first metal workpiece to heat the peripheral wall at the first weld portion and join the first metal workpiece with the first open end of the peripheral wall.

Abstract: A component, which may be an automotive chassis structure, includes first and second sub-part main bodies. The first sub-part main body is formed of a first material, and the second sub-part main body is formed of a second material. The first material is a steel alloy, and the second material is aluminum or an aluminum alloy. A transition layer is attached to and contacts the first sub-part main body. The transition layer is formed of a third material, where the third material contains at least a majority of copper. A mixed layer is disposed between the transition layer and the second sub-part main body, and the mixed layer is formed of a mixture of the second material and the third material. A disclosed method includes forming the component by friction stir welding the transition layer to the second sub-part main body.

Abstract: A method of joining two ferrous alloy component parts. The method includes hot metal casting a portion of a first ferrous alloy component part onto a first joining surface of a low carbon intermediate element; friction fitting a joining surface of a second ferrous alloy component part against a second joining surface of the low carbon intermediate element; and fusion welding with a concentrated energy source the intermediate element to the second ferrous alloy component part. The hot metal casting includes flowing a molten ferrous alloy onto the textured first joining surface, wherein the molten ally encompasses tabs extending from the first joining surface and filling apertures defined in the intermediate element. Then cooling the molten ferrous alloy such that a metallurgical and mechanical bond is formed between the portion of the first ferrous alloy component part and the first joining surface of the low carbon intermediate element.

Abstract: A method for producing and reinforcing a composite gear includes providing a base material comprising a polymer and forming a composite gear from the base material, the composite gear having a gear body and at least one gear tooth extending from the gear body, the at least one gear tooth having a tooth face, a tooth flank, a tooth fillet, a tooth root, and a tooth tip. The method includes depositing a first metallic material to a first area of the at least one gear tooth of the composite gear, the first area including the tooth root of the at least one gear tooth and depositing a second metallic material to a second area of the at least one gear tooth of the composite gear. The first metallic material is applied in a first thickness and the second metallic material is applied in a second thickness.

Abstract: A method of welding a component made from a ferrous alloy to a component made from an aluminum alloy includes machining and cleaning a fay surface on the ferrous alloy component, machining and cleaning a fay surface on the aluminum alloy component, depositing a layer of copper alloy material onto the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component, forming a weld groove on at least one of the layer of copper alloy material deposited on the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component and the fay surface of the aluminum alloy component, and laser welding the layer of copper alloy deposited on the fay surface of the ferrous alloy component and the fay surface of the aluminum alloy component to one another.

Abstract: A method of joining a first piece of an automotive component that is made from a first material to a second piece of the automotive component that is made from a second material includes machining a fay surface onto each of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, cleaning the fay surfaces of each of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, placing a metal filler between the fay surfaces of the first and second pieces of the automotive component, holding the first and second pieces together with the metal filler positioned between the fay surfaces of the first and second pieces, and passing an electric current through the first piece, the metal filler and the second piece to melt the metal filler and weld the first piece to the second piece.