Abstract: A process for joining first and second metal workpieces by laser brazing for forming a vehicle structure includes providing the workpieces in contacting relationship so as to form an elongated contact region, wherein at least one of the workpieces is made of hot-dip galvanized steel material, supplying a laser beam having a beam parameter product lower than 10 mm·mrad from a laser source, guiding the laser beam through a laser focus head having a total optical magnification in the range of 1:0.5-1:1.5, directing the laser beam along the elongated contact region, wherein a beam spot formed where the laser beam hits the contact region has a size in the range of 2-6 mm, and supplying a consumable wire of filler material to the beam spot to melt the consumable wire and braze the workpieces together, wherein the consumable wire comprises at least 95% copper.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for steering a physical analog system (e.g., an electric motor) using a discrete-level (e.g., binary) control signal. The discrete-level control signal is computed by an iterative scheme that can handle a long planning horizon. A preference for infrequent level switches can be taken into account. The quality of the fit to the target trajectory can be expressed not only by the quadratic error, but also by other norms. The method can be used also for digital-to-analog conversion.

Abstract: A process for joining first and second metal workpieces by laser brazing for forming a vehicle structure includes providing the workpieces in contacting relationship so as to form an elongated contact region, wherein at least one of the workpieces is made of hot-dip galvanized steel material, supplying a laser beam having a beam parameter product lower than 10 mm·mrad from a laser source, guiding the laser beam through a laser focus head having a total optical magnification in the range of 1:0.5-1:1.5, directing the laser beam along the elongated contact region, wherein a beam spot formed where the laser beam hits the contact region has a size in the range of 2-6 mm, and supplying a consumable wire of filler material to the beam spot to melt the consumable wire and braze the workpieces together, wherein the consumable wire comprises at least 95% copper.

Abstract: Methods for joining a first blank and a second blank, wherein the first blank and the second blank include a steel substrate with a coating including a layer of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The method includes selecting a first portion of the first blank to be joined to the second blank, and selecting a second portion of the second blank to be joined to the first portion, and welding the first portion to the second portion. The welding includes using a laser beam and an arc welding torch, wherein the arc welding torch includes a wire electrode, wherein the wire electrode is made of a steel alloy including gammagenic elements, optionally a stainless steel alloy including gammagenic elements and displacing both the laser beam and the arc welding torch in a welding direction, and wherein in the welding direction, the arc welding torch is positioned in front of the laser beam.

Abstract: Methods for joining a first blank and a second blank, wherein the first blank and the second blank include a steel substrate with a coating including a layer of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The method includes selecting a first portion of the first blank to be joined to the second blank, and selecting a second portion of the second blank to be joined to the first portion, and welding the first portion to the second portion. The welding includes using a laser beam and an arc welding torch, wherein the arc welding torch includes a wire electrode, wherein the wire electrode is made of a steel alloy including gammagenic elements, optionally a stainless steel alloy including gammagenic elements and displacing both the laser beam and the arc welding torch in a welding direction, and wherein in the welding direction, the arc welding torch is positioned in front of the laser beam.