Abstract: The exhaust gas catalytic converter (1) with an ordered substrate structure (10) for catalysing material comprises layers (13) with parallel channels. The layers are substantially parallel to the direction (15) of main flow of the exhaust gas. The cross-sectional surfaces of the substrate structure along the direction of main flow has, according to the invention, at least partly variable area and/or variable shape; the channels make with the direction of main flow and angle between about 10.degree. and 70.degree. and the channels in adjacent layers are open towards each other and cross each other. The exhaust gas catalytic converter according to the invention enables its shape to be adapted to the conditions of small space.

Abstract: The hollow needle (1) for medical use comprises a duct (10), which usually contains an aperture (11) which is elliptic or similar to an ellipse. The edge (14) of this aperture (11) is rounded by melting in the converging part (14') when regarded from the point (1') of the hollow needle (1). The process for rounding the edge (44) by melting uses a laser (45) which is pulsated or operates continuously, in the effective range (45') of which the part (44') to be rounded of the edge (44) lies.

Abstract: Starting on the surface of a foundation body (2) weld material is applied in runs to form layers by an equipment for profiling building-up welding and hence a workpiece (1) is manufactured, where the foundation body (2) may be a component of the workpiece (1). The course of runs to form layers as well as the approximate rate of application of weld material are calculated by a computer system (11), starting from a two- or three-dimensional data model of the workpiece (1) in the form of software, and given over to the system control (10) which positions the welding torch (7) by means of the robot (5) and the workpiece (1) located on a turntable (4) by a clamping mechanism (3) with respect to one another, and regulates the rate of application of weld material applied by the welding apparatus (8) in such a way that the liquid weld material adheres to the layer lying underneath without running down and irregularities in the runs to form layers are levelled out.

Abstract: A protective layer for a metal substrate is metallurgically bonded to the substrate and contains (as a percentage by mass) 35 to 50% chromium, up to 10% of which can be replaced by molybdenium, and at least iron, the proportion of iron being at least 25%. The minimum hardness is 800 HVO.1, obtained by a structure having a minimum content of 5% by volume as sigma phase. The sigma phase is obtained by heat-treatment of the coated substrate. The protective layer is particularly resistant to corrosion and also has good resistance to erosion and wear.

Abstract: The surface of a workpiece is provided with a surface layer. Initially, the workpiece is inductively heated by a HF/MF generator to a first temperature and subsequently heated further by a laser beam with coating material being applied to the region of the laser beam in an amount sufficient to form a surface layer on the workpiece. The generator and the laser source are able to operate simultaneously to effect a high quality surface layer of relatively thin thickness.

Abstract: The laser welding device is used for welding or coating workpieces. The device includes a nozzle for feeding powder to the operating area of a workpiece for melting within a laser beam directed onto the workpiece. The axis of the laser beam and the axis for the direction of movement of the laser beam on the surface of the workpiece, as well as an axis mutually perpendicular to the two axes, define a coordinate system having an origin at the point of incidence (EL) of the laser beam on the surface of the workpiece. A controllable and adjustable device maintains the positions of the nozzle largely constant in the coordinate system even when the relative movement of the laser beam and the workpiece are complex. This enables weld joints and welded-arm layers of a complex form and a largely homogenous quality to be produced.

Abstract: A wear layer is provided for each of a piston and cylinder of an internal combustion engine in which ash-producing fuels of solid-liquid mixtures are combusted. Each layer consists of a hard phase and a second phase of lower hardness and greater toughness. Each wear layer has a minimum thickness of one millimeter; the hard phase has a minimum hardness of 1900 HV with a mean chord length in the running direction of from 30 to 200 microns. There is a metallurgical bond between the phases in the wear layer as well as between the wear layer and the substrate. In addition, the hard phases of the respective wear layers have an almost equal hardness value.

Abstract: Starting on the surface of a foundation body (2) weld material is applied in runs to form layers by an equipment for profiling building-up welding and hence a workpiece (1) is manufactured, where the foundation body (2) may be a component of the workpiece (1). The course of runs to form layers as well as the approximate rate of application of weld material are calculated by a computer system (11), starting from a two- or three-dimensional data model of the workpiece (1) in the form of software, and given over to the system control (10) which positions the welding torch (7) by means of the robot (5) and the workpiece (1) located on a turntable (4) by a clamping mechanism (3) with respect to one another, and regulates the rate of application of weld material applied by the welding apparatus (8) in such a way that the liquid weld material adheres to the layer lying underneath without running down and irregularities in the runs to form layers are levelled out.