Abstract: A method is disclosed for welding a first part and second part together. A spacer bead is first formed on the first part by directing a laser beam on one side of the first part. The second part is then assembled to the one side of the first part. The second part is then welded to the first part by directing a second laser beam in a partially circular pattern adjacent the spacer bead. An end portion of the weld terminates radially inside the partially circular pattern.

Abstract: A radially slotted welding electrode is disclosed that may be used in conjunction with a companion second welding electrode to conduct resistance spot welding on a workpiece stack-up assembly that includes a steel workpiece and an overlapping adjacent aluminum workpiece, especially when an intermediate organic material layer is disposed between the workpiece faying surfaces of the steel and aluminum workpieces. The radially slotted welding electrode includes a weld face that has a central upstanding plateau and a convex dome portion that surrounds the central upstanding plateau and which includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced trapezoidal weld face sections that include transverse upstanding arcuate ridges. Together, the central upstanding plateau and the trapezoidal weld face sections of the convex dome portion define an annular channel that surrounds the central plateau and a plurality of radial slots that communicate with and extend outwards from the central channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) objects, 3D printing processes, as well as methods, apparatuses and systems for the production of a 3D object. Methods, apparatuses and systems of the present disclosure may reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary supports. The present disclosure provides three dimensional (3D) objects printed utilizing the printing processes, methods, apparatuses and systems described herein.

Abstract: An electronically controlled apparatus for the manufacture of fused overlay plate including a conveyor assembly, a ground assembly, two hopper assemblies, a number of wire feeder assemblies, and a perforated cooling drum to produce a metal plate with a fused weld overlay that is harder, more impact resistant, and demonstrates a longer lifespan with respect to abrasion than known in the prior art.

Abstract: A sear mechanism for a firearm includes a trigger element having one or more contact surfaces on which one or more movable or pivotable components of the sear mechanism selectively contacts or slides. In some embodiments, the trigger element is made by producing an intermediate workpiece of the trigger element by a manufacturing process, and electric discharge machining the intermediate workpiece of the trigger element to provide the contact surfaces.

Abstract: Selective laser solidification apparatus is described that includes a powder bed onto which a powder layer can be deposited and a gas flow unit for passing a flow of gas over the powder bed along a predefined gas flow direction. A laser scanning unit is provided for scanning a laser beam over the powder layer to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layer to form a required pattern. The required pattern is formed from a plurality of stripes or stripe segments that are formed by advancing the laser beam along the stripe or stripe segment in a stripe formation direction. The stripe formation direction is arranged so that it always at least partially opposes the predefined gas flow direction. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: A method for low heat welding includes providing short circuit pulse Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding at less than a rate of about a twenty (20) inch a minute travel speed.

Abstract: An outer lid for an arc furnace includes an outer lid formed from copper or a copper alloy. The outer lid also includes electrode ports, an off-gas chute, and a charge chute. Cooling circuits are present within the outer lid. The bottom surface of the outer lid is exposed to the internal volume of a crucible, and promotes accretion of slag, which can act as a heat barrier.

Abstract: This disclosure describes various methods and apparatus for characterizing an additive manufacturing process. A method for characterizing the additive manufacturing process can include generating scans of an energy source across a build plane; measuring an amount of energy radiated from the build plane during each of the scans using an optical sensor; determining an area of the build plane traversed during the scans; determining a thermal energy density for the area of the build plane traversed by the scans based upon the amount of energy radiated and the area of the build plane traversed by the scans; mapping the thermal energy density to one or more location of the build plane; determining that the thermal energy density is characterized by a density outside a range of density values; and thereafter, adjusting subsequent scans of the energy source across or proximate the one or more locations of the build plane.

Abstract: A wire based additive manufacturing system includes a base movable in a feed direction. Multiple welding lasers are each spatially fixed as the base moves in the feed direction. Multiple cutting lasers are each spatially fixed as the base moves in the feed direction. Multiple wire feed members each feed an individual wire of a plurality of wires onto the base as the base moves in the feed direction. Each one the multiple welding lasers is energized to fuse parallel adjoining ones of the plurality of wires, and each one of the cutting lasers is energized to cut one of the fused wires to complete one of a plurality of wire layers.

Abstract: A laser crystallization device includes a laser oscillator, a stage, and a reflection unit. The stage is configured to support a substrate with a target film disposed on the substrate. The laser oscillator is configured to irradiate an incident laser beam on the target film. The stage is configured to move the substrate such that the incident laser beam scans the target film. The incident laser beam is reflected from the target film to generate a reflected laser beam. The reflection unit includes at least two reflection mirrors positioned at a path of the reflected laser beam. The reflection unit is configured to re-irradiate the reflected laser beam on the target film two or more times through a plurality of paths that are different from a path of the incident laser beam.

Abstract: A machining condition setter in a wire electrical discharge machine, sets up: as machining conditions, a first machining condition for enabling the core fixing function in a first section on the upstream side; a second machining condition for enabling formation of a slot in the workpiece in a second section on the downstream side; and a medial machining condition that is different from the first machining condition and the second machining condition in a medial section located between the first section and the second section.

Abstract: A power supply unit for a resistance welding apparatus, said power supply unit comprising a converter circuit adapted to convert an alternating power supply current, AC, applied via a residual current protection circuit to an input of said converter circuit into a pulsed electrical current supplied from an output of said converter circuit to a primary coil of a transformer of said resistance welding apparatus, and at least one switching element provided between the output of said converter circuit and protective earth.

Abstract: A glass sheet processing method is provided for irradiating a laser beam on a glass sheet and forming a cleavage in the glass sheet with thermal stress. If each of an irradiation area of the laser beam on the surface and an irradiation area of the laser beam on the back face of the glass sheet includes a peak position of a power density of the laser beam, each irradiation area has an asymmetrical power density distribution that is asymmetrical with respect to a reference line that passes through the peak position and is parallel to a moving direction of the peak position. If each irradiation area has no peak position, each irradiation area has an asymmetrical shape that is asymmetrical with respect to a reference line that passes through a centroid position of the irradiation area and is parallel to a moving direction of the centroid position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing a three-dimensional product. Fabrication of a three-dimensional part from a powder spread over a work table as a powder bed can be initiated. The fabrication process can be paused to cool down the work table to room temperature to obtain access to the three-dimensional part for post-processing operations such as, for example, embedding external artifacts. Fabrication can continue by preheating the powder rather than the work table until fabrication of the three-dimensional part is complete. A damaged part may be placed within the powder bed, wherein the fabrication process can be directly initiated to achieve part repair. Additionally, a material of the same part's composition can be used or a different material utilized to render the part better than new. Access to the three-dimensional part allows embedding of a foreign object in the three-dimensional part within the powder bed while the three-dimensional part remains non-finished.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a gas pressure forming method of an ellipsoid. The formability of a closed polyhedral shell including polar plates, ellipsoidal side flap plates, and welded joints is improved, and the closed polyhedral shell is pressurized into an ellipsoid by using compressed gas under a heating condition, specifically comprising: assembling and welding two polar plates and ellipsoidal side flap plates into a closed polyhedral shell; disposing an electrode on the closed polyhedral shell, energizing and heating to a preset temperature, and then inflating compressed gas into the shell; deforming the closed polyhedral shell under the action of internal gas pressure, stopping inflating gas until a desired curvature shell is obtained, discharging gas, and removing the electrode to obtain a formed ellipsoid.

Abstract: A heating apparatus, a heat treatment apparatus, and a heating method are provided. The heating apparatus includes a workpiece support on which a ring-shaped workpiece is placed, a rotary drive assembly, and a heater configured to heat the workpiece. The workpiece support includes a plurality of rotating rollers arranged in a circumferential direction. The rotary drive assembly is configured to rotate the plurality of rotating rollers to rotate the workpiece placed on the workpiece support along a ring shape of the workpiece. The heater includes a heating coil configured to induction-heat the workpiece on the workpiece support at a heating position, and an actuator configured to move the heating coil at the heating position relative to the workpiece to adjust a distance between the workpiece and the heating coil.

Abstract: Methods for direct writing of single crystal super alloys and metals are provided. The method can include: heating a substrate positioned on a base plate to a predetermined temperature using a first heater; using a laser to form a melt pool on a surface of the substrate; introducing a superalloy powder to the melt pool; measuring the temperature of the melt pool; receiving the temperature measured at a controller; and using an auxiliary heat source in communication with the controller to adjust the temperature of the melt pool. The predetermined temperature is below the substrate's melting point. The laser and the base plate are movable relative to each other, with the laser being used for direct metal deposition. An apparatus is also generally provided for direct writing of single crystal super alloys and metals.

Abstract: A process of welding a weld turbulator on an article includes forming a weld pool on a surface of the article using an arc welder, directing at least one beam of at least one beam welder to at least one fusion edge of the weld pool, and translating the arc welder and the beam welder in a weld direction to shape the weld pool into the weld turbulator extending in the weld direction and having the fusion edge. A turbulator welding system includes an arc welder arranged and disposed to provide an electric arc on a surface of an article to form a weld pool and at least one beam welder arranged and disposed to provide at least one beam to at least one fusion edge of the weld pool. A component includes an article having a surface and a weld turbulator on the surface of the article.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the energy density of a laser beam using parameters of the laser beam including regularly applying the laser beam to a reference substrate and measuring, with each application, the resulting light intensity; identifying a change in the light intensity on the reference substrate between at least two measurements; and, when the change in the light intensity is higher than a predetermined threshold, determining the unstable parameter or parameters of the energy density of the laser beam.