Abstract: A spot welding method includes a heating step of energizing an electrode in pressure contact with an Al alloy member to heat and melt a join part by resistance heating and a cooling step of cooling the join part after the heating step in a state in which the electrode is in pressure contact with the Al alloy member. The alloy is a wrought alloy of Mg: 0.2 to 1.2 mass %, Si: 0.4 to 1.5%, and Cu: 1.1% or less or a casting alloy of Si: 7 to 11% and Mg: 0.1 to 0.4% with respect to 100% as a whole. The cooling step includes a first cooling process performed with a reduced amount of input energy to the join part as compared with the heating step and a second cooling process performed after the first cooling process at a higher cooling rate than that in the first cooling process.

Abstract: A countertop appliance temperature controller configured to provide improved temperature control of a resistive heating element heated cooking surface of a countertop appliance through the use of a noncontact thermal sensor. The temperature controller including a pair of electrical output contacts selectively coupleable to the resistive heating element of the countertop appliance, a user input configured to receive a desired temperature setpoint for the cooking surface of the countertop appliance, a noncontact temperature sensor configured to receive temperature information directly from the cooking surface of the countertop appliance, and a thermostat configured to adjust an electrical output of the pair of electrical output contacts to minimize a difference between the desired temperature setpoint and a perceived actual temperature of the cooking surface based on the received temperature information.

Abstract: A method, medium, and system to obtain an assignment of one of a plurality of different additive manufacturing (AM) print parameter sets to each of a plurality of 3D volume elements forming a representation of the model of the part; define a plurality of groupings based on margin parameter values associated with the model of the part; assign a print parameter set to each grouping; automatically assign each of the plurality of print parameter sets to a laser of a multi-laser AM device; save a record of the determined print parameter sets to laser assignments; and transmit the record of the determined print parameter sets to laser assignments to an AM controller to control the multi-laser AM device to generate the part based on the model of the part and the determined print parameter sets to laser assignments, the generated part to be built in a single build.

Abstract: A method of joining electrical connections together includes evaluating at least one weld joint between at least two substrates, determining mismatch between the at least two substrates, and welding the at least two substrates together with a multi-step welding process. The multi-step welding process includes compensating for mismatch between the at least two substrates by welding on both sides but not overlapping a joint line between the at least two substrates with a first welding step and increasing melt volume and penetration depth of a weld between the at least two substrates with a second welding step.

Abstract: A coil assembly for controlling a magnetic field in a plasma chamber is provided herein. In some embodiments, the coil assembly may include a mandrel including an annular body that includes at least one upper body coolant channel and at least one lower body coolant channel, and a plurality of cooling fins disposed circumferentially about an outer diameter of the body and radially outward from the outer diameter, an inner electromagnetic cosine-theta (cos ?) coil ring including a first set of inner coils wrapped around the plurality of cooling fins in the body and configured to generate a magnetic field in a first direction, an outer electromagnetic cosine-theta (cos ?) coil ring including a second set of outer coils wrapped around the plurality of cooling fins and configured to generate a magnetic field in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: An electron beam installation, which is used for processing powdered material, has a powder container, which can accommodate a powder bed made of the powdered material to be processed. Furthermore, it has an electron beam generator, which is configured to direct an electron beam onto laterally differing locations of the powder bed. To reduce the dispersion of the powdered material during the processing using the electron beam, the electron beam installation has a frit device, which, by applying an AC voltage between at least two electrodes, generates an electromagnetic alternating field, which bonds the powdered material of the powder bed, at least in regions over the powder bed.

Abstract: In a method for a cooktop, in particular for producing and/or operating the cooktop, which has at least one variable cooking surface, the cooking surface is partitioned in an operating mode along a partitioning direction into a plurality of heating zones to which at least one heating parameter is assigned in each case in a location-dependent manner in order to heat a cooking utensil that is deposited on the heating zone. In order to ensure flexible production and/or flexible operation of the cooktop, during partitioning of the cooking surface into the heating zones in at least one peripheral region of the cooking surface, at least one cooking utensil characteristic is taken into account.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to calibrating scanner devices for positioning laser beams in a processing field, and includes, e.g.: arranging a retroreflector in the processing field of the scanner device, the processing field being formed in a processing chamber for irradiating powder layers; detecting laser radiation reflected back into the scanner device when the laser beam passes over the retroreflector; determining an actual position of the laser beam in the processing field using the detected laser radiation; and calibrating the scanner device by correcting a laser beam target position specified for the scanner device in the processing field using the determined actual position of the laser beam in the processing field.

Abstract: A method and a system for digital image correlation and thermal monitoring during directed energy deposition are provided. The method and the system include global off-axis 3D mapping of surfaces features at high frame rates using the natural surface roughness of the additive build. Infrared thermography is projected onto these surface features to record the thermo-mechanical history of the finished component. As set forth herein, the method and the system provide a low-cost solution to monitoring and optimizing the unique temporal artifacts induced by complex scan strategies.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) print engine includes (A) a plurality of walls laterally defining a build chamber, (B) a build box including a build plate, (C) a powder dispenser, (D) a beam system for fusing layers of powder, (E) a peripheral plate disposed between the build plate and the plurality of walls and having an upper surface, (F) a gas inlet that ejects a gas flow stream that passes over the build plate and the peripheral plate, (G) a gas outlet that receives the gas flow stream, (H) a plurality of projecting structures mounted to and extending above the upper surface of the peripheral plate, and (I) a gas handling system coupled to the gas inlet and gas outlet. The plurality of projecting structures shape the flow field of the gas flow stream to provide a more uniform velocity of gas flow velocities above the build plane.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) printer. The 3D printer comprises a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, each ejector conduit comprising a first end positioned to accept a print material, a second end comprising an ejector nozzle, and a passageway defined by an inner surface of the ejector conduit for allowing the print material to pass through the ejector conduit from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an additive manufacturing system for forming a part using a powder material. In one embodiment the system makes use of a primary heat generating subsystem to generate a fusing beam for heating and fusing at least one of select portions of a powder layer, or an entire area of a powder layer, deposited on a build plate. The system also incorporates a beam steering subsystem for steering the fusing beam over the powder layer. A supplemental heating subsystem is used to generate a wide area beam to heat a portion of the powder layer either prior to fusing, along with the fusing operation, or subsequent to fusing of the powder with the fusing beam. The wide area beam has an intensity which is insufficient to fuse the powder, and alters a microstructure of the powder layer as the powder layer is at least one of fused or as it cools, to thus relieve stress in the part.

Abstract: Laser welding methods include focusing laser radiation onto a first metal sheet disposed on a metal part, optionally with one or more intervening metal sheets therebetween. The laser radiation is steered to trace at least one spiral path to spot-weld together the metal parts. The laser radiation includes a center beam and an annular beam to maintain a stable keyhole. One method is tailored to weld aluminum parts, e.g., with high gas content and/or dissimilar compositions, and the laser radiation traces first an outward spiral path and then an inward spiral path. The center beam is pulsed during one segment of the inward spiral path. Another method is tailored to weld steel or copper parts having a coating at an interface therebetween, and the laser radiation traces an inward spiral path. The interface may be a zero-gap interface, or a non-zero gap may exist.

Abstract: An appliance and methods for operating the appliance in a safety-critical operation are provided. The appliance and methods for operating the appliance include features that provide safe and intuitive ways to initiate and cancel safety-critical operations performed by the appliance.

Abstract: A method for welding components includes the following steps: providing a first component and a second component; bringing together the two components; welding the two components by use of a laser beam, wherein a plurality of welding impulses are generated through the repeated activation and deactivation of the laser beam, with each welding pulse being interrupted by welding-free rest intervals in which the laser beam is deactivated, wherein a local welding area is generated by each welding pulse, in which material of the two components is melted and fused in a locally limited manner, wherein individual welding areas of those generated by the welding pulses overlap.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for preparing a multiple-material variable-rigidity component by efficient collaborative additive manufacturing, relates to the technical field of additive manufacturing. In the disclosure, the method comprises: pretreating a component structure model and dividing the component structure model into a lightweight part with complex pore structures and a solid part that needs to be manufactured rapidly; preparing the lightweight part by a selective laser melting prototyping; performing a surface treatment on the prepared lightweight part to obtain a treated lightweight part; preparing the solid part on the treated lightweight part by a wire arc additive manufacturing, to obtain a component.

Abstract: Presented are metalworking systems for joining metallic workpieces, methods for forming and welding such workpieces, and lithium-ion battery pouch cells with anodized aluminum tabs joined via knurling and laser welding. A method for laser welding abutting sections of a workpiece or stackup of workpieces includes receiving, via a workpiece support frame, one or more metallic workpieces each with a surface having applied thereto a treatment layer. This treatment layer releases a gas during welding. A metalworking device forms a knurl pattern into the workpiece surface with the treatment layer. The knurl pattern includes a network of channels, such as one or more series of mutually parallel, rectilinear vent channels, designed to exhaust therethrough the gas released from a welded section of the treatment layer. A laser welding device thereafter welds a joint region of the surface(s) of the one or more metallic workpiece with the knurl pattern.

Abstract: A system for increasing joint strength and reducing embrittlement in a resistance spot weld of metal workpieces is disclosed. The system comprises a stackup of first and second metal workpieces, and an interface member disposed between the first and second metal workpieces. The interface member comprises a peripheral wall defining a hollow inner portion. The peripheral wall has a first open end extending to a second open end. The first open end is in contact with the first metal workpiece defining a first weld portion thereon. The second open end is in contact with the second metal workpiece defining a second weld portion thereon. The system further comprises a first electrode configured to contact the first metal workpiece to heat the peripheral wall at the first weld portion and join the first metal workpiece with the first open end of the peripheral wall.

Abstract: A material-removing heater device including: a first terminal portion defining a first electrode; a second terminal portion defining a second electrode; and a heating portion which connects the first terminal portion to the second terminal portion, the heating portion heatable by a flow of electrical current from the first terminal portion to the second terminal portion to remove a portion of material of a display device. The heating portion defines a lower end surface of the material-removing heater device at which the material-removing heater device contacts the material of the display device, the heating portion disposes the lower end surface to have a concave shape, and the heating portion which is heated deforms the lower end surface from the concave shape to have a planar shape.

Abstract: A microwave oven and a method of operating the same is provided herein. The method includes the steps of: sensing that a door of the microwave is in an open state; interrupting a power input to a generator power supply unit comprising a first converter, a first energy reserve, a second energy reserve located downstream from the first energy reserve, and a second converter located between the first and second energy reserves; detecting an input voltage; and disabling the second converter if the detected input voltage is less than a threshold voltage that is proportional to the detected input voltage, wherein disabling the second converter triggers the second energy reserve to discharge, and wherein the time necessary to discharge the second energy reserve is free of influence from the first energy reserve and is independent of the detected input voltage.