Abstract: A method for welding a first component to a second component. The method includes providing a first component including a first alloy, providing a second component including a second alloy, heating the first component, and solid state welding the second component to the first component.

Abstract: A method for heat treating a crankshaft surface on a crankshaft for a vehicle propulsion system includes heating the crankshaft surface to a first temperature and heating the crankshaft surface to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylinder liner for an engine block for a vehicle propulsion system and the cylinder liner made from the method. The method includes providing a cylinder liner mold having a cylindrical inner surface, masking a first portion of the cylindrical inner surface, applying a coating to a second portion of the cylindrical inner surface, and forming a cylinder liner by solidifying molten metal in the cylinder liner mold.

Abstract: A sand casting apparatus, a method of forming a sand casting apparatus, and an automotive component are provided. The sand casting apparatus includes a sand casting base including a sand mold and/or a sand core having a base sand mixture, where the base sand mixture includes a sand material and a binder material. The sand casting apparatus further includes an outer layer disposed on the sand casting base. The outer layer includes silicon, magnesium, calcium, zirconium, manganese, carbon, aluminum, and iron. The automotive component has portions defining an aperture therein. The automotive component is formed of cast iron and has a nodular graphite structure from interior matrix to surface, where the nodular graphite structure on the surface is formed by a sand core having an outer layer that has reacted with the cast iron automotive component to form the nodular graphite structured surface.

Abstract: A high-strength steel alloy and automotive components produced therefrom, as well as a method for forming a steel alloy, are provided. The high-strength steel alloy includes iron, about 0.24 to about 0.80 weight percent carbon, about 0.40 to about 2.10 weight percent manganese, about 0.20 to about 1.60 weight percent silicon, about 0.05 to about 0.14 weight percent sulfur; about 0.10 to about 12.0 weight percent chromium, about 0.10 to about 2.50 weight percent nickel, and about 0.02 to about 0.07 weight percent aluminum. The steel alloy may also include boron, molybdenum, titanium, niobium, and/or nitrogen. The method includes air quenching a steel alloy component after mold shakeout until the component reaches a temperature in the range of 420 to 530 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A method for simultaneous ultrasonic welding/brazing of a first metallic alloy workpiece over a second metallic alloy workpiece includes creating depressions in a joining surface of a first metallic alloy workpiece, and applying a coating material to at least one of the joining surface of the first metallic alloy workpiece or a joining surface of a second metallic alloy workpiece. Next, contaminates are removed from the joining surfaces of the first metallic alloy workpiece and the second metallic alloy workpiece, and the workpieces are joined using ultrasonic vibration to create a welded and brazed joint.

Abstract: A method for welding a first component to a second component includes providing a first component of a first alloy and having coating of a second alloy on a face of the first component, and solid state welding a second component of a third alloy to the coating of the first component. The second alloy includes only non-ferrous compounds.

Abstract: A method for additive manufacturing of an article using pressurizing gas in an enclosure including introducing additive manufacturing equipment into the enclosure before sealing and removing air from the sealed enclosure to obtain a predetermined oxygen threshold. Next, the sealed enclosure is pressurized to obtain a predetermined pressure threshold using an inert gas. When the predetermined pressure threshold is obtained, the article is constructed using additive manufacturing.

Abstract: A method for bonding a cylinder liner within a cylinder bore of a vehicle engine block includes providing a bonding substrate on one of an outside surface of the cylinder liner and an inside surface of a cylinder bore in the engine block, positioning the cylinder liner in the cylinder bore, and heating the cylinder liner.

Abstract: A bearing shell for an automotive propulsion system is provided, along with a crankshaft assembly and an engine having a bearing shell. The bearing shell comprises an inner layer having an inner layer thickness. The inner layer defines a bearing surface on an inner side. The bearing surface of the inner layer is configured to support and contact an oil film. The bearing shell also has an outer layer disposed around the inner layer and radially outward of the inner layer. The outer layer has an outer layer thickness that is greater than the inner layer thickness, the outer layer thickness being at least one millimeter. The outer layer is formed of an outer layer material comprising an aluminum alloy and/or a metal matrix composite material. The inner layer is formed of an inner layer material, wherein the outer layer material is stronger than the inner layer material.

Abstract: A hydraulically-driven Intra-Ocular Lens (IOL) insertion tool includes a body, a chamber within the body, a first fluid port providing fluid communication into the chamber, a piston positioned within the chamber and arranged to move within the chamber in response to the introduction or removal of fluid from the chamber, and an elongated member. The elongated member includes a distal end comprising an intra-ocular lens interface and a proximal end connected to the piston such that movement of the piston within the chamber causes corresponding movement of the elongated member.

Abstract: A method of irrigating a surgical site and aspirating fluid from the surgical site. The method includes directing a fluid through an aspiration conduit in a phacoemulsification hand piece using a vacuum pressure created from a pump in the hand piece interfacing with the aspiration conduit and directing an irrigation fluid through an irrigation conduit in the hand piece using a pressure created from the pump interfacing with the irrigation conduit. The method also includes increasing an irrigation fluid flow through the irrigation conduit by activating the pump in the hand piece, detecting a pressure associated with a surgical site using a sensor, and controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) by adjusting the pump speed based on the detected pressure.

Abstract: A fine grain steel alloy and automotive components produced therefrom are provided. The fine grain steel alloy includes iron, about 0.20 to about 0.60 weight percent carbon, about 1.80 to about 2.50 weight percent manganese, about 0.20 to about 1.20 weight percent silicon, and about 0.10 to about 0.25 weight percent of a transition metal, where the transition metal is vanadium, niobium, or a combination of vanadium and niobium. The fine grain steel alloy may also include about 0.60 to about 1.50 weight percent chromium, about 0.01 to about 0.20 weight percent aluminum, and about 0.01 to about 0.20 weight percent titanium.

Abstract: A surgical cassette clamping system includes a mounting plate having a first side and a second side. A bracket system may be disposed adjacent the first side of the mounting plate. A clamp motor may be disposed adjacent the mounting plate and fixed relative to the mounting plate. The clamp motor may be operably connected to the bracket system to displace the bracket system relative to the mounting plate. The system may also include a plurality of pivot arms pivotably connected to the bracket system and extending adjacent the second side of the mounting plate. An engagement portion may be attached to each of the plurality of pivot arms that cooperatively engages the second side of the mounting plate, the engagement portion being operable to pivot the pivot arms when the bracket system moves relative to the mounting plate.

Abstract: A sand casting apparatus, a method of forming a sand casting apparatus, and an automotive component are provided. The sand casting apparatus includes a sand casting base comprising a sand mold and/or a sand core comprising a base sand mixture, where the base sand mixture includes a sand material and a binder material. The sand casting apparatus further comprises an outer layer disposed on the sand casting base. The outer layer comprises silicon, magnesium, calcium, zirconium, manganese, carbon, aluminum, and iron. The automotive component has portions defining an aperture therein. The automotive component is formed of cast iron and has a nodular graphite structure from interior matrix to surface, where the nodular graphite structure on the surface is formed by a sand core having an outer layer that has reacted with the cast iron automotive component to form the nodular graphite structured surface.

Abstract: A bimetallic piston pin for a vehicle engine includes a tubular steel alloy shell, a first core member, a second core member and a middle core member. The tubular steel alloy shell includes a first end, a second end and a middle region. The tubular steel alloy shell also includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The first core member may be disposed within the tubular steel alloy shell at the first end and the second core member may also disposed within the tubular steel alloy shell at the second end. The middle core member may be disposed within the tubular steel alloy shell between the first core member and the second core member.

Abstract: An engine block, an automotive structure, and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes providing an inner bore substrate defining an inner surface of the engine cylinder bore, the inner bore substrate being formed of a first material. The method further includes disposing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The thermal spray coating is formed of a second material that is different than the first material. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the thermal spray coating with a laser after performing the step of disposing the thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The automotive structure and the engine block have a substrate covered by a thermal spray coating and laser remelted sections anchoring the coating to the substrate.

Abstract: A cultureware system is directed to maintaining viability of mammalian cells, and includes a disposable holding container having a cell receiver with a cell-receiving surface. The cell receiver consists of a cell-adhesion inducement material including a polystyrene material and a glass material. The system further includes a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating lining the cell-adhesion inducement material of the cell-receiving surface, and a culture of adherent mammalian cells located within the cell receiver on the PTFE coating. In response to attachment interaction between the mammalian cells and the PTFE coating, a decreased cell adhesion results in a cell viability rate of at least about 60% to about 70% over a 72-hour culturing period, the cell viability rate being under 90% over the 72-hour culturing period if, in the absence of the PTFE coating, the mammalian cells are located directly on the cell-adhesion inducement material.

Abstract: A surgical cassette clamping system includes a mounting plate having a first side and a second side. A bracket system may be disposed adjacent the first side of the mounting plate. A clamp motor may be disposed adjacent the mounting plate and fixed relative to the mounting plate. The clamp motor may be operably connected to the bracket system to displace the bracket system relative to the mounting plate. The system may also include a plurality of pivot arms pivotably connected to the bracket system and extending adjacent the second side of the mounting plate. An engagement portion may be attached to each of the plurality of pivot arms that cooperatively engages the second side of the mounting plate, the engagement portion being operable to pivot the pivot arms when the bracket system moves relative to the mounting plate.