Abstract: A unitized assembly may comprise a fiber metal laminate and at least one additive layer. The fiber metal laminate may have non-metallic plies bonded to metallic plies and may include an innermost metallic ply. The at least one additive layer may be deposited onto the innermost metallic ply by friction stir welding.

Abstract: Disclosed therein are an apparatus for and a method of welding a flange to a guide thimble tube in a nuclear fuel assembly. The automatic welding apparatus includes a welding unit located on an axially conveying line of a tube for welding a surface of the tube inserted thereinto and a surface of a flange, a flange supplying unit for supplying the flange at a tube inlet of the welding unit onto the axially conveying line, and a conveying unit mounted on the axially conveying line in such a way as to move the tube and the flange on the axially conveying line, so that they are inserted into and drawn from the welding unit.

Abstract: To provide a bonding apparatus capable of increasing product quality by realizing high-precision control of a pressing force applied upon mounting of an electronic component on a substrate by bonding, and to a bonding method capable of providing high-quality products stably. The bonding apparatus includes: at least a bonding head 100 for pressing an electronic component 6 against a substrate 1 to bond it to the substrate 1; a plurality of load detection mechanisms (e.g., load sensors 5) substantially equally spaced so as to face one another under a substrate stage S supporting the substrate 1 provided with the electronic component 6; and a pressure detection unit 20 for detecting pressing force at the bonding surface between the electronic component 6 and substrate 1 on the basis of the pressure values detected by the individual load detection mechanisms 5.

Abstract: When a friction stir weld tool penetrates the interface of two workpieces of dissimilar metal alloy materials, the resultant weld of the different alloy materials may produce a weak weld joint. Such weak joints are often experienced, for example, when attempting to form spot welds or other friction stir welds between a magnesium alloy sheet or strip and an aluminum alloy sheet or strip. It is discovered that suitable coating compositions including an adhesive placed at the interface of assembled workpieces can alter the composition of the friction stir weld material and strengthen the resulting bond. In the example of friction stir welds between magnesium alloy and aluminum alloy workpieces, it is found that combinations of an adhesive with copper, tin, zinc, and/or other powders can strengthen the magnesium-containing and aluminum-containing friction stir weld material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting a bonding failure of a wire bonder, which comprises a bonding tool operative to form an electrical connection between a semiconductor die and a substrate using a bonding wire. The method comprises the steps of: forming a first wire bond on a first surface located on the semiconductor die using the bonding tool and the bonding wire; forming a second wire bond on a second surface located on the substrate using the bonding tool and the bonding wire such that a wire loop connects the first and second wire bonds, wherein the first surface is not electrically-conductive; moving the bonding tool in a direction away from the second wire bond to break the bonding wire from the second wire bond; detecting whether the second wire bond remains bonded to the substrate; and determining an occurrence of the bonding failure if the second wire bond is no longer bonded to the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing a weld seam on work pieces by means of friction stir welding, said device having a welding head (5) with a rotating friction stir welding tool (4), the welding head being guided along the joining region and supported with respect to the work piece (1). In said device an irrecoverable tension rod (3) is provided for support, said rod being able to penetrate the welding region, being supported with its lower end on the work piece (1) in a tensioned manner, and carrying a rail (3b) on its upper end for supporting a counter piece (6) that is mechanically connected to the welding head (5) or to the friction stir welding tool (4). An additional supplementary tool (9) working, when seen in the direction of welding, in front of the friction stir welding tool (4) is provided for removing the upper section (3e) of the tension rod protruding above the welding plane from the welding region.

Abstract: A method for forming a field joints between sections of coated or insulated pipe which are to be welded together and incorporated into an undersea pipeline for carrying single or multi-phase fluids such as oil, gas and water. The method includes the application of a liquid epoxy layer which overlaps a lip of the factory-applied FBE coating protruding beyond a chamfered end of the factory-applied insulation layer, and which may be applied over the entire weld joint area. The liquid epoxy layer is partially cured by application of heat, and a layer of powdered adhesive is applied onto the partially cured liquid epoxy layer. The adhesive is subsequently sintered and activated by application of heat to its outer surface. The outer surfaces of the adhesive layer and the chamfers are then preheated and the thermal joint insulation is injection molded over the entire joint area.

Abstract: Devices and methods for friction stir welding using an anvil with a sacrificial material are disclosed. The method involves the steps of providing an anvil with a sacrificial material on the backside of the workpieces and operating a friction stir welding device to form a weld that joins the workpieces together with the sacrificial material. The anvil comprises a non-sacrificial base portion removably coupled with a sacrificial material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a qualitatively-stable functionally gradient material precursor having gradient material composition, as well as a production method of the functionally gradient material precursor, at low cost. Further, the present invention provides a functionally gradient material having gradient material composition, or having both gradient material composition and gradient porosity, so as to achieve high-functionality; as well as a production method of the functionally gradient material. A functionally gradient material precursor is formed by the steps of: forming plural kinds of metal foam precursors, each obtained by performing heat treatment on a metal member so that a plurality of pores are generated within the metal member, by making the material composition of the metal member different; and friction stir welding the plural kinds of metal foam precursors. Further, a functionally gradient material is formed by performing heat treatment on the functionally gradient material.

Abstract: A propeller shaft includes a first shaft having a yoke at one end, a second shaft slidably connected to the other end of the first shaft, and a surface treated member which is arranged at a connecting portion, at which the first shaft and the second shaft are connected to each other, and to which surface treatment for improving slidability of the second shaft with respect to the first shaft is applied. The surface treated member is formed by a substrate which is separate from the first shaft and the second shaft and to which the surface treatment has been applied. The surface treated member is arranged at the connecting portion, at which the first shaft and the second shaft are connected to each other, after the surface treatment is applied.

Abstract: A method for quality control during ultrasonic bonding, in which a transducer bonding tool unit and an ultrasonic generator are used and in which, during the bonding, one or more sensors are used to sense measurement signals for one or more parameters, which can vary during the bonding, for assessing the bond quality and/or for influencing the bonding, and which proposes that, during the bonding, at least one speed profile measurement signal representing the time/speed profile of the tip of the ultrasonic tool in the direction of oscillation thereof be sensed. The invention also relates to a bonding apparatus which is suitable for carrying out the method. Furthermore, the invention relates to other quality control methods for ultrasonic bonding and to bonding apparatuses which are suitable for carrying out these methods.

Abstract: Methods of attaching cutting elements to earth-boring tools, comprising abutting a portion of a cutting element against at least one surface of an earth-boring tool with a braze material disposed therebetween; and brazing the cutting element to the earth-boring tool by applying high-frequency vibrations to cause the braze material to become flowable. Methods of securing cutting elements to earth-boring tools may comprise at least partially coating a cutting element with a braze material. The cutting element may be at least partially disposed in a pocket formed in a body of an earth-boring tool with the braze material adjacent surfaces defining the pocket. The cutting element and the braze material may be ultrasonically torsionally oscillated to braze the cutting element within the pocket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for joining ceramic composite parts comprising at least one ceramic material and at least one superhard material to at least one other part, the method comprising treatment of a joining surface or surfaces of the ceramic composite part; and disposition onto the treated surface or surfaces, or portions thereof, of a material capable of bonding to the ceramic composite part as well as to the at least one other part upon the application of sufficient heat. The invention extends to articles comprising a ceramic composite part comprising ceramic material and at least one superhard material, bonded to at least one other part, the article including at least one layer selected from an attachment layer, a brazeable layer, and an oxidation resistant (braze compatible) layer or combinations thereof included at an interface between the ceramic composite part and the other part.

Abstract: Microvalves are composed in a stacked design of a plurality of components comprising at least two housing parts, a membrane clamped between the two housing parts, and an actuator. A plurality of identical components are respectively arranged on a common, individual support plate and positioned next to each other in one plane. The manufacturing method for the microvalves comprises the steps of: providing the support plates with respectively identical components positioned in a grid pattern each having with the same grid dimension, inserting the support plates on top of one another in a retaining device, connecting at least some of the stacked components arranged on the support plates on an outer edge delimiting the components by a joining method, separating the microvalves by punching, and punching the membrane from a membrane support plate during connection of the components.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a support structure comprises a base, a compliant layer, and a protective layer which is used to secure a semiconductor device, such as a lead-frame, to a window clamp during a bonding process. The compliant layer distributes even loading over the surface of the semiconductor device while clamped. In other embodiments, the compliant layer may be segmented into individual portions corresponding with openings in the window clamp. The window clamp may also have a compliant layer and a protective layer and may be used with or without a compliant layer on the support structure. Features on the protective layer may be included to support structures of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A friction welding tool having a pin and a clamping device with a counter bearing, a holddown element and a spring element. The pin has a coupling section for releasable, rotationally fixed coupling to a rotating output device of a machine tool. The counter bearing is held on the pin between the pin's coupling and engagement ends in a manner that allows the counter bearing to be axially immovable on but freely rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the pin. The holddown element surrounds the pin and is arranged on a side of the counter bearing facing the engagement end. The holddown element has a bearing surface for bearing on the workpiece arrangement. The spring element is provided between the holddown element and the counter bearing and is mounted on the pin in such a way that it is elastically slidable along the longitudinal axis of the pin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for producing a jointed member by subjecting two to-be-jointed members which are contacted each other to friction stir welding. The method for producing a jointed member executes a dwelling step in which a probe is rotated only for a predetermined period at at least one of a probe starting point position which is a position of the probe for forming a joint starting point in the to-be-jointed member and a probe end point position which is a position of the probe for forming a joint end point in the to-be-jointed member.

Abstract: A process for reducing aluminum pick-up and adherence during the ultrasonic welding of aluminum braids which are welded in a vertically and/or horizontally adjustable compression chamber of an ultrasonic welding device. The static tool parts which delimit the compression chamber have working surfaces made from polycrystalline diamond (PCD).

Abstract: Devices and methods for friction stir welding using an anvil with a sacrificial material are disclosed. The method involves the steps of providing an anvil with a sacrificial material on the backside of the workpieces and operating a friction stir welding device to form a weld that joins the workpieces together with the sacrificial material. The anvil comprises a non-sacrificial base portion removably coupled with a sacrificial material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for welding the end faces of thin-walled jackets (12) on a welding plane, said device comprising two cylindrical positioning receiving units (1), which center the jackets (12) to be welded in relation to their outer diameters, both receiving units (1) being located on an alignment base flush with one another and being axially displaceable. A deformable, annular, membrane-type heat exchanger is situated on the exterior of each receiving unit (1), said heat exchanger being formed from a set of sheets (2) consisting of heat-resistant material that are separated from one another. The lower end of the sheets is designed to be in thermal contact with the jacket (12).