Abstract: A method for producing a solid body layer having a domed or curved shape at least in sections includes: irradiating a surface of the solid body by laser beams emitted from a laser application device to produce a modified region within the solid body that includes modifications having an extension in a longitudinal direction of the solid body, the longitudinal extension extending orthogonally to the irradiated solid body surface, wherein the modifications are configured to guide a crack for detaching the solid body layer upon application of an external force; and enlarging the extension of the modified region in the longitudinal direction to increase stress produced by the modified region in unmodified material of the solid body, wherein enlarging the extension of the modified region in the longitudinal direction increases the probability of spontaneous splitting of the solid body layer from the solid body without application of the external force.

Abstract: It is disclosed a laser marking apparatus provided with a protection shield, comprising a support frame (T) of a working deck (2) and wherein, around said working deck, a protection shield is arranged which fully encircles the working area of said laser marking head (4) and provided with at least partly perimetrally upright arranged panels with respect to said working deck, wherein said panels (P1-P8) are mounted movable from a lower position, wherein said shield encircles said support frame (T) up to a height completely below or flush with the upper surface of said working deck (2), to an upper extended position wherein said shield encircles the area above said working deck (2) up to a working height of said laser marking head (4).

Abstract: A laser machining device includes a laser machining head and a control unit. The laser machining head applies laser for machining an object to be machined, and includes a first laser light source for first laser, a second laser light source for second laser having a different pulse width different from the first laser, a condensing optical system provided between the object and the laser light sources to condense at least the lasers on the object, a switch mechanism provided between the condensing optical system and the laser light sources so that the switch mechanism is movable to a position that at least one of the lasers enters the condensing optical system, and an irradiation angle change mechanism provided between the condensing optical system and the switch mechanism to change an irradiation angle of the first laser. The control unit controls the laser machining head.

Abstract: A recess or through-hole forming method for forming a substrate with a recess or a through-hole along a thickness direction of the substrate, the method including: a modified region forming step of applying a laser beam of such a wavelength as to be transmitted through the substrate to the substrate, with a focal region of the laser beam positioned inside the substrate, to form a column-shaped modified region which is exposed to a surface of the substrate and extends along the thickness direction of the substrate; and an etching step of etching the modified region to form the substrate with the recess or the through-hole, after the modified region forming step is performed.

Abstract: A laser engraver having a laser, a camera, and a plate for holding a product, wherein an optical path of the laser is directed to the plate, an optical path of the camera is directed to the plate, and the optical path of the camera to the plate and the optical path of the laser to the plate are at least partially the same before and when hitting the plate. The laser engraver includes a controller and a comparator, wherein the controller is configured to have the laser engrave a predefined pattern at a predefined position on the product on the plate to form an engraved pattern on the product and have the camera capture a position of the engraved pattern, have the comparator compare the predefined position and the position captured by the camera to determine a difference therebetween, and use the difference to calibrate the laser.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated impeller has a first shroud forming a bottom portion, a second shroud forming a lid portion, a hub formed at the center portion of the first shroud, and blades that section a flow path which is formed between the first shroud and the second shroud and through which a fluid flows. This method includes forming a flow path on the inner circumferential side of the impeller; and forming a flow path on the outer circumferential side of the impeller. The step of forming the flow path on the outer circumferential side of the impeller has the steps of: while rotating the linear electrode having a tip-end part and a base-end part about a longitudinal direction axis thereof, applying electric discharge machining to the first shroud; applying electric discharge machining to the second shroud; and applying electric discharge machining to the blade.

Abstract: The wire electric discharge machining device includes a wire bobbin configured to wind and hold a wire electrode, a wire delivery roller configured to draw the wire electrode from the wire bobbin and deliver the wire electrode continuously toward a work-piece, a brake motor configured to apply a load to the wire bobbin in a direction against the drawing of the wire electrode, rotation speed detector configured to detect a rotation speed of the wire bobbin, an emptiness determination device configured to determine that the wire bobbin reaches an empty state based on a rapid change in the rotation speed of the wire bobbin detected by the rotation speed detector, and a drive control part configured to stop the drive of the wire delivery roller when the emptiness determination device determines that the wire bobbin reaches the empty state.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated heatable media line having at least one pipe- and/or hose-type media line, at least one line connector located on the end of the line and at least one pre-fabricated heating element, the pre-fabricated heating element including at least two heating element portions connected in at least one circuit and at least one of the heating element portions extends over at least part of the at least one line connector and the at least one pipe- and/or hose-type media line in order to heat the at least one part of the line connector and the at least one pipe- and/or hose-type media line. In the pre-fabricated heatable media line, at least one of the heating element portions is designed as a mixed stranded wire having a number of stranded individual wires consisting of at least two different materials.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for welding a workpiece comprising the steps of: making a first weld at a first position on said workpiece with a high energy beam, deflecting the high energy beam with at least one deflection lens for making a second weld at a second position on said workpiece, focusing the high energy beam on said workpiece with at least one focusing lens, shaping the high energy beam on said workpiece with at least one astigmatism lens so that the shape of the high energy beam on said workpiece is longer in a direction parallel to a deflection direction of said high energy beam than in a direction perpendicular to said deflection direction of said high energy beam. The invention is also related to the use of an astigmatism lens and to a method for forming a three dimensional article.

Abstract: A fine hole electric discharge machine includes a machining tank, a storage tank, at least one pipeline, a guide base, a liquid current generator, and a controller. The at least one pipeline has at least one opening directed to the upper surface of a workpiece and allows machining liquid to flow through. The liquid current generator selectively forms a first liquid current in which the machining liquid is supplied from the storage tank and jetted from a predetermined opening of the opening, or a second liquid current in which the machining liquid is sucked from an opening the same as or different from the predetermined opening and recovered to the storage tank. The controller controls the liquid current generator to form the first liquid current or the second liquid current.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mold includes the processes of: arranging a channel member in a recessed groove formed on a surface of a mold body; irradiating an opening part of the recessed groove with a first laser, thereby performing a first build-up welding on a part in the vicinity of the opening part of the recessed groove; and irradiating a region on a surface of the mold body including a region where the first build-up welding has been performed with a second laser, thereby performing a second build-up welding on a region on the surface of the mold body including the region where the first build-up welding has been performed.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a platform, a dispenser to dispense a plurality of layers of feed material on a top surface of the platform, a light source to generate a first light beam and a second light beam, a polygon mirror scanner, a galvo mirror scanner positioned adjacent to the polygon mirror scanner, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the light source, the polygon mirror scanner and the galvo mirror scanner, and the controller is configured to cause the light source and polygon mirror scanner to apply the first light beam to a region of the layer of feed material, and to cause the light source and galvo mirror scanner to apply the second light beam to at least a portion of the region of the layer of feed material.

Abstract: A laser cleaning apparatus and a laser cleaning method are furnished, for switching the wavelengths of laser beams furnished by a single laser module using a wavelength switching module and cleaning a test piece using the laser beams having wavelengths and energy suitable for manufacturing needs. The laser cleaning method includes: creating a laser beam; switching the wavelength output by the laser based on process requirements; propagating the laser beam via an optical path propagating module for laser cleaning the test piece; and removing debris. A transfer platform allows movements of the laser beams with respect to the test piece to achieve cleaning of the entire test piece. A control module controls the wavelength switching unit, the laser beam regulating module, and the transfer platform. Total laser cleaning with improved laser cleaning quality is achieved by using these laser beams with the appropriate wavelengths and energy.

Abstract: A device for distributing gas near a weld location includes a cap, a funnel, an inlet, and an aperture. The cap includes a sidewall and an annular lip, and defines a reservoir between the sidewall and the annular lip. The annular lip includes a proximal-most edge. The cap defines an opening, and defines a longitudinal axis. The funnel is disposed adjacent a distal end of the cap. The inlet is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the cap. The aperture is disposed through the sidewall of the cap and is in fluid communication with the inlet. The aperture is disposed distally of the proximal-most edge of the annular lip. Gas is configured to flow through the inlet, through the aperture and into the reservoir. The reservoir is configured to allow the gas to uniformly overflow the proximal-most edge of the annular lip and flow distally through the opening defined by the cap.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process includes applying a layer of a building material on a building support or an already applied and selectively solidified layer and selectively solidifying the applied layer by electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation. All positions in the layer that correspond to a cross-section of the object are scanned by electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation such that at these positions the powder is melted at least at its surface. At least one cross-section includes an inner region and a surface region. The step of applying a layer and the step of selectively solidifying the layer are repeated until all cross-sections of the object are solidified. At least a portion of the surface region is scanned at least twice before scanning of the inner region starts.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a processing chamber defining a window for receiving a laser beam and an optical module. The optical module is removably-mountable to the processing chamber for delivering the laser beam through the window. The optical module contains optical components for focusing and steering the laser beam and a controlled atmosphere can be maintained within the module.

Abstract: A wire electrical discharge machine for performing electrical discharge machining on a workpiece to be machined by applying voltage to an electrode gap formed between a wire electrode and the workpiece to generate electrical discharge at the electrode gap under predetermined machining conditions while conveying the wire electrode along a transfer path, includes: a wire breakage detector for detecting a breakage of the wire electrode; a position calculator for calculating the breakage position of the wire electrode in the transfer path; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the machining conditions when the breakage position is in a predetermined section of the transfer path.

Abstract: A tool for laser beam processing is provided. The tool includes an upper tool and a lower tool, which are able to be advanced toward one another by way of a press, such that at least one component is able to be fixed in a predefined position between the upper tool and the lower tool. At least one laser beam exit surface, which is part of an inner surface of the upper tool or lower tool, and at least one laser beam guide, into which laser radiation is able to be coupled and is able to be directed through the laser beam exit surface onto a processing location on the component are provided. A control device, which enables and/or disables the coupling of laser radiation into the at least one laser beam guide depending on the advancing movement between upper tool and lower tool is provided. Furthermore, a laser beam processing apparatus and a method for laser beam processing are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the real time inspection of additive manufacturing deposits using infrared thermography. Various embodiments may enable the measurement of material properties and the detection of defects during the additive manufacturing process. Various embodiments may enable the characterization of deposition quality, as well as the detection of deposition defects, such as voids, cracks, disbonds, etc., as a structure is manufactured layer by layer in an additive manufacturing process. Various embodiments may enable quantitative inspection images to be archived and associated with the manufactured structure to document the manufactured structure's structural integrity.

Abstract: A system and method to correct for height error during a robotic additive manufacturing process. One or both of an output current, output voltage, output power, output circuit impedance and a wire feed speed are sampled during an additive manufacturing process when creating a current layer. A plurality of instantaneous contact tip-to-work distances (CTWD's) are determined based on at least one or both of the output current, output voltage, output power, output circuit impedance and the wire feed speed. An average CTWD is determined based on the plurality of instantaneous CTWD's. A correction factor is generated, based on at least the average CTWD, which is used to compensate for any error in height of the current layer.