Abstract: A laser beam irradiation apparatus includes a laser light source, a controller for controlling energy of light generated by the laser source, a first optical system for adjusting a shape of light that has passed through the controller, a scanner for adjusting the direction of light that has passed through the first optical system, and an F-theta lens for reducing a beam that has passed through the scanner.

Abstract: A processing apparatus is equipped with: a first stage system that has a table on which a workpiece is placed and moves the workpiece held by the table; a beam irradiation system that includes a condensing optical system to emit beams; and a controller to control the first stage system and the beam irradiation system, and processing is performed to a target portion of the workpiece while the table and the beams from the condensing optical system are relatively moved, and at least one of an intensity distribution of the beams at a first plane on an exit surface side of the condensing optical system and an intensity distribution of the beams at a second plane whose position in a direction of an optical axis of the condensing optical system is different from the first plane can be changed.

Abstract: A wire electric discharge machining apparatus is provided. The wire electric discharge machining apparatus includes an upper support that supports an upper guide unit that guides a wire electrode on an upper side. The upper support includes an arm having a lower end provided with the upper guide unit, an axis drive portion moving the arm in at least one axial direction and made of a material that has a larger coefficient of linear expansion than ceramics, and an adjustment block connecting the arm and the axis drive portion and made of ceramics. The adjustment block is fixed at a position where a displacement of the upper guide unit caused by expansion and contraction of the upper support is suppressed by a bimetal effect occurring on a fastening surface of the axis drive portion and the adjustment block.

Abstract: A machine-vision-assisted welding system comprises welding equipment, a time of Flight (ToF) camera operable to generate a three-dimensional depth map of a welding scene, digital image processing circuitry operable to extract welding information from the 3D depth map, and circuitry operable to control a function of the welding equipment based on the extracted welding information. The welding equipment may comprise, for example, arc welding equipment that forms an arc during a welding operation, and a light source of the ToF camera may emit light whose spectrum comprises a peak that is centered at a first wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is selected such that a power of the peak is at least a threshold amount above a power of light from the arc at the first wavelength.

Abstract: Some variations provide an aluminum alloy feedstock for additive manufacturing, the aluminum alloy feedstock comprising from 81.5 wt % to 88.8 wt % aluminum; from 1.1 wt % to 2.1 wt % copper; from 3.0 wt % to 4.6 wt % magnesium; and from 7.1 wt % to 9.0 wt % zinc. The aluminum alloy feedstock may be in the form of a free-flowing powder or a feedstock ingot, for example. In some variations, the aluminum alloy feedstock comprises from 84.9 wt % to 88.3 wt % aluminum; from 1.2 wt % to 2.0 wt % copper; from 3.2 wt % to 4.4 wt % magnesium; and from 7.3 wt % to 8.7 wt % zinc.

Abstract: A machine learning apparatus includes: a state observation unit that observes a characteristic shape, an adopted plan, and a determination result as state variables, the characteristic shape representing a shape of a part of a product of wire electric discharge machining, adjustment of machining conditions being deemed as necessary for the part of the product, the adopted plan being an adjustment method selected from among one or more adjustment methods for adjusting the machining conditions to improve machining performance for the part indicated by the characteristic shape, the determination result indicating whether implementation of the adopted plan is effective in improving machining performance for the part corresponding to the characteristic shape; and a learning unit that learns the machining condition adjustment method according to a data set created based on the state variables.

Abstract: A wire electrical discharge machine includes: a voltage application unit for repeatedly applying a voltage to an electrode gap between the workpiece and the wire electrode at a predetermined cycle; a switching element connected in parallel with the electrode gap and configured to short-circuit the electrode gap; and a control section for controlling the switching element so as to short-circuit the electrode gap in a pause period during which the voltage is not applied. The control section adjusts a short-circuiting period in which the electrode gap is short-circuited according to the machining shape specified by a machining program.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved structure formation, part creation and manipulation, use of multiple additive manufacturing systems, and high throughput manufacturing methods suitable for automated or semi-automated factories are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric discharge machine 1 incudes: a machining tank 11; a dirty fluid tank 13; a circulation pump 21; a filter unit 3 including a filter element 31 and a filter case 33; a fixing mechanism 5 fixing the filter unit; a clean fluid tank 15; and a fluid feeding pump 23. The fixing mechanism includes: a bracket 51 fixed in a predetermined position; a rotating member 53 rotatably connected to the bracket; a lever 6 having: a link 61 of which one end is connected to the rotating member, a nut 63 arranged on the other end of the link, and a rod 65 screwed with the nut; a locked member 55 fixed to the bracket and engaged with the rod; and a pressing member 7 of which one end is connected to the rotating member 53 and the other end presses the filter case.

Abstract: A process of welding fittings to ends of a double wall pipe comprising forming a first welded joint between an inner pipe and an inner receiver of a first fitting; forming a second welded joint between an outer pipe and an outer receiver of the first fitting; forming a third welded joint between the outer pipe and an outer receiver of a second fitting; and forming a fourth welded joint between the inner pipe and an inner receiver of the second fitting.

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 wire electrical discharge machine includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not a first route and a second route, each including an approach path, a machining path and an escape path in this order, are set in this order as a movement route of a wire electrode; and a wire movement control unit that, when the first route and the second route are determined to be set in a machining program in this order as the movement route of the wire electrode, causes the wire electrode to transition from the machining path of the first route to the machining path of the second route without moving the wire electrode along the escape path of the first route and the approach path of the second route.

Abstract: An example system includes: a hand-held welding tool that is manually placed in a welding position, wherein the hand-held welding tool is configured to be activated to cause a contact tip or a welding heat source to automatically move from a first position and to second position during a welding operation, and wherein a welding arc is automatically and repeatedly turned off and on while the contact tip or the welding heat source moves from the first position to the second position to make a plurality of welds between the first position and the second position, wherein, as a travel speed decreases, a time period between each arc on time increases to make equally spaced welds.

Abstract: The present invention relates micro resistance welding apparatus and to a method of welding. In particular, the present invention relates to small scale or micro welding apparatus and to a method of micro resistance welding using a controlled sequence of current, voltage and/or power signal profile for an electric arc. The invention provides a welding apparatus comprising: a controller supplying a controlled drive current to a weld head circuit in which the controller supplies said controlled drive current in dependence upon electrical feedback from the weld head circuit and in which the controlled drive current is defined by a sequence of segments and for each segment the welding apparatus operates in a mode defined by setting one of a predetermined current target, a predetermined voltage target or a predetermined power target; and at least two of the segments are operated in a different mode from one another. The invention also provide a method of operating such an apparatus.

Abstract: A fill tool system that fills, seals, and inspects a heat pipe array, which includes one or more heat pipes with heat pipe working fluid.

Abstract: A welding or additive manufacturing power supply includes output circuitry configured to generate a welding waveform, a current sensor for measuring a welding current generated by the output circuitry, a voltage sensor for measuring an output voltage of the welding waveform, and a controller operatively connected to the output circuitry to control the welding waveform, and operatively connected to the current sensor and the voltage sensor to monitor the welding current and the output voltage. A portion of welding waveform includes a controlled change in current from a first level to a second level different from the first level. The controller is configured to determine a circuit inductance from the output voltage and the controlled change in current, and further determine a change in resistance of a consumable electrode in real time based on the circuit inductance.

Abstract: A method performed by a laser machine includes: before a laser-beam machining process, recording an influence of a change in a position of at least one movable laser machine component on a lateral position of a focal point of a laser beam in a focal plane or relative to a reference point, storing an association between the position of the movable laser machine component and the lateral position, and then, setting, based on the stored association, the focal point to a preset lateral position in the focal plane or relative to the reference point by setting the position of the movable laser machine component. The movable laser machine component can include at least one of at least one optical element in a beam path of the laser beam, a laser-beam machining head in a work area of a laser machine, or a movable part of the laser-beam machining head.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to laser welding in the manufacture of sheet metal components, such as for example automobile components. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process and a system for forming a localized anti-corrosion surface layer along a laser welded joint (weld bead), subsequent to the laser welding together of sheet metal plates having an anti-corrosion surface layer pre-coat.

Abstract: A method for the monitoring of a wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process, the method comprising the steps of: setting a unit observation length for the signal acquisition, continuously acquiring at least one process signal which is representative of an amount of material removed by at least one discharge and the position (X;Y) of said at least one discharge, and determining, based on said at least one process signal and one or more properties of a current machining, a cumulated amount of material removed per unit observation length along a machining path, including amounts of material removed by travelling in a forward cutting direction and amounts of material removed by travelling in a reverse cutting direction.

Abstract: A method is provided comprising identifying an alignment point of a workpiece; positioning a first end of an electrode in the direction of the alignment point of the workpiece; applying a first voltage to the electrode wherein the applied first voltage generates a spark; rotating the electrode in a first direction; advancing the electrode toward the alignment point by a first distance wherein advancing the electrode and applying the first voltage creates a first orifice section; applying a second voltage to the electrode and modifying one or more operational parameters of the electrode; advancing the electrode toward the alignment point by a second distance wherein advancing the electrode and applying the second voltage causes formation of at least a second orifice section; wherein the first and second orifice sections cooperate to form an orifice comprising a first flow area and a second flow area.