Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a ceramic matrix composite material includes providing a ceramic fiber and a powdery base material for a ceramic matrix composite and layer-by-layer building up the ceramic matrix material for the ceramic matrix composite by irradiating of a powder bed formed by the base material with an energy beam according to a predetermined geometry, wherein the base material is melted, solidified and adhesively joined to the ceramic fiber in that parameters of the energy beam are locally chosen such that in the contact region of the ceramic fiber and the powder bed, the ceramic fiber is only partly melted.

Abstract: A customised orthopaedic implant is provided, the implant being formed of metal, the implant being substantially comprised of a lattice-type geometry that has a periodic arrangement and is conformal to a configuration of a region of bone that was resected to remove bone that is diseased and is optimised to substantially restore a biomechanical function of a bone from which the region of bone was resected on implantation of the customised orthopaedic implant in consideration of the anatomical function and of the properties of a bone type corresponding to the region of bone that was resected, together with patient-specific parameters and anticipated loads to which the implant will be subjected during various typical activities and movements.

Abstract: A method for producing a customised orthopaedic implant is provided. The method involves scanning a bone from which a diseased region of bone will be resected to obtain a three dimensional digital image of an unresected volume of bone; scanning the bone after a diseased region of bone has been resected to obtain a corresponding three dimensional digital image of a resected volume of bone; and comparing the three dimensional digital image of the unresected volume of bone to the corresponding three dimensional digital image of the resected volume of bone to estimate a volume of bone that has been resected. The estimate of the volume of bone that has been resected is used to design a customised orthopaedic implant that substantially corresponds to the configuration of the resected volume of bone, the implant being configured to substantially restore a biomechanical function of the bone. Finally the customised orthopaedic implant is manufactured and provided for insertion into the resected region of bone.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a ceramic matrix composite material includes providing a ceramic fiber and a powdery base material for a ceramic matrix composite and layer-by-layer building up the ceramic matrix material for the ceramic matrix composite by irradiating of a powder bed formed by the base material with an energy beam according to a predetermined geometry, wherein the base material is remelted, solidified and adhesively joined to the ceramic fiber in that parameters of the energy beam are locally chosen such that in the contact region of the ceramic fiber and the powder bed, the ceramic fiber is only partly remelted.

Abstract: A method of detecting the state of a gap between an electrode and a workpiece in electrical discharge machining (EDM) equipment, the method including the steps of: prior to generating an electrical discharge to remove material from the workpiece, applying a low energy checking pulse across the gap during a checking phase period (Tc); and inferring a short circuit gap state when the gap current exceeds a current threshold (IT).

Abstract: A method for producing a customised orthopaedic implant is provided. The method involves scanning a bone from which a diseased region of bone will be resected to obtain a three dimensional digital image of an unresected volume of bone; scanning the bone after a diseased region of bone has been resected to obtain a corresponding three dimensional digital image of a resected volume of bone; and comparing the three dimensional digital image of the unresected volume of bone to the corresponding three dimensional digital image of the resected volume of bone to estimate a volume of bone that has been resected. The estimate of the volume of bone that has been resected is used to design a customised orthopaedic implant that substantially corresponds to the configuration of the resected volume of bone, the implant being configured to substantially restore a biomechanical function of the bone. Finally the customised orthopaedic implant is manufactured and provided for insertion into the resected region of bone.

Abstract: A method of detecting the state of a gap between an electrode and a workpiece in electrical discharge machining (EDM) equipment, the method including the steps of: prior to generating an electrical discharge to remove material from the workpiece, applying a low energy checking pulse across the gap during a checking phase period (Tc); and inferring a short circuit gap state when the gap current exceeds a current threshold (IT).

Abstract: A method for joining elements together, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the elements relative to one another; enhancing the formability of at least a portion of at least one of the elements using a laser; and joining the elements together using a mechanical fastening method.

Abstract: A powder delivery nozzle (32), for a laser cladding delivery head (38), includes inner and outer sleeves (52, 54). The inner sleeve (52) defines a central passage enabling a laser beam to pass along the nozzle axis. The sleeves (52, 54) define a multi-branched longitudinally extending powder flow-path system (52, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62). The system (52, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62) includes a first set of passages (59), and a second set of passages (60), with the passages (59) of the first set angularly offset from the passages (60) of the second set. Each passage (59) of the first set communicates with two passages (60) of the second set by a circumferential passage or gallery (58) such that powder from each passage (59) of the first set passes through to two passages (60) of the second set. The same form of communication is able to apply to any other set.

Abstract: A method for joining elements together, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the elements relative to one another; enhancing the formability of at least a portion of at least one of the elements using a laser; and joining the elements together using a mechanical fastening method.

Abstract: A powder delivery nozzle (32), for a laser cladding delivery head (38), includes inner and outer sleeves (52, 54). The inner sleeve (52) defines a central passage enabling a laser beam to pass along the nozzle axis. The sleeves (52, 54) define a multi-branched longitudinally extending powder flow-path system (52, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62). The system (52, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62) includes a first set of passages (59), and a second set of passages (60), with the passages (59) of the first set angularly offset from the passages (60) of the second set. Each passage (59) of the first set communicates with two passages (60) of the second set by a circumferential passage or gallery (58) such that powder from each passage (59) of the first set passes through to two passages (60) of the second set. The same form of communication is able to apply to any other set.