Abstract: Provided is an estimation model generation device configured to generate an estimation model for estimating a lifetime of a tool based on a load curve indicating temporal change or positional change of the load applied to the tool, the tool being used for repeatedly machining a plurality of workpieces in a plate-shape while applying the load to each of the plurality of workpieces, the estimation model generation device including: an information acquisition unit that acquires the load curve at a timing before the tool reaches the end of lifetime due to repeated machining using the tool; an estimation model generation unit that generates, based on load data and a tool lifetime, an estimation model for predicting the lifetime of the tool, the load data being obtained by separating the load curve into a first load curve and a second load curve.

Abstract: Provided is an estimation model generation device configured to generate an estimation model for estimating a lifetime of a tool based on a load curve indicating a temporal change or a positional change of the load applied to the tool, the tool being used for repeatedly machining a plurality of workpieces in a plate-shape while applying the load to each of the plurality of workpieces, the estimation model generation device including: an information acquisition unit that acquires the load curve at a timing before the tool reaches a lifetime due to repeated machining using the tool; an estimation model generation unit that generates, based on the load curve and a tool lifetime, an estimation model for the lifetime of the tool, the tool lifetime being a time period from time of acquiring the load curve to time at which the tool reaches the lifetime; and a storage unit.

Abstract: A motor includes a rotor and a stator. The stator is formed by laminating a plurality of magnetic thin strips each having a plurality of teeth parts. The magnetic thin strip includes an elliptical-shaped inner diameter part formed along tip end portions of the plural teeth parts. At least one magnetic thin strip in the laminated magnetic thin strips is shifted by a given angle with respect to other magnetic thin strips in a horizontal direction, and positions of all teeth parts of the laminated magnetic thin strips correspond to one another to reduce cogging torque.

Abstract: Provided is a press-forming apparatus including: a punch; a die having an inclined surface inclined toward a hollow part into which the punch is inserted and; a die plate holding the die; a blank holder having a holding surface facing the inclined surface of the die; a die load sensor detecting a load in a pressing direction, a load in a first direction perpendicular to the pressing direction, and a load in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a controller that calculates a normal force of the die based on the loads in the pressing direction, in the first direction, and in the second direction, the loads being detected by the die load sensor, and calculates the amount of correction of clearance between the die and the blank holder based on the normal force of the die; a first driver that moves the die in the pressing direction based on the amount of correction of clearance; and a second driver that drives the punch in the pressing direction.

Abstract: A soft magnetic powder that can exhibit desirable soft magnetic characteristics. A dust core using the soft magnetic powder is also provided. The soft magnetic powder includes: a soft magnetic powder layer of an unoxidized soft magnetic material; a second oxide layer as an oxide with iron or boron residing around the soft magnetic powder layer; and a first oxide layer of an iron oxide residing around the second oxide layer. The first oxide layer and the second oxide layer reside in a region of 20 nm or more and 500 nm or less from a surface of the soft magnetic powder, and are absent in a region of more than 500 nm and 1,600 nm or less from the surface.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of manufacturing an iron core includes connecting a plurality of iron core pieces each including a tooth portion and a yoke portion in a strip shape, connecting the iron core pieces adjacent to each other by a connection portion, and forming a continuous iron core piece provided line-symmetrically with reference to the connection portion. A laminated body is formed by bending and superimposing the iron core pieces adjacent to each other while the connection portion is used as a symmetry axis. A pressure is applied in a laminating direction of the laminated body to fix the laminated body, and a coil is provided in the tooth portion. In this manner, it is possible to realize a manufacturing method of an iron core, which have a high material yield, high productivity, and excellent magnetic properties by using a thin iron core piece.

Abstract: An iron core including a laminate of a plurality of fixed electromagnetic steel sheets, a laminate of alloy thin strips which is sandwiched between the laminate of the electromagnetic steel sheets, a fastening mechanism which penetrates the laminates of electromagnetic steel sheets and alloy thin strips, and a fixing base. The laminate of alloy thin strips reduces compressive and torsional forces acting on the laminate of alloy thin strips by using the iron core having a structure in which upper and lower portions of a laminate of alloy thin strips having nanocrystal grains are sandwiched together with laminates of amorphous alloy thin strips. Furthermore, a motor including a rotor and the above-described iron core is used.

Abstract: A motor includes: a stator that includes a laminated group of soft magnetic alloy strips that are laminated and is fastened to a base by a bolt that penetrates the laminated group in a direction of laminating the soft magnetic alloy strips; and a rotor that is rotatably installed on the base. A resin layer is provided at least on a laminated end surface closest to the bolt, in the laminated end surface of the stator.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a stator, including: an adjustment step of adjusting a thickness of a laminated body including a laminated group of soft magnetic alloy strips containing, in whole or in part, soft magnetic alloy strips obtained by heat-treating amorphous alloy strips and metal plates, the metal plates sandwiching the laminated group; a winding step of fastening the laminated body to a base and performing winding at a predetermined prat of the laminated body in a laminating direction; a removal step of releasing the fastening of the laminated body to the base and removing foreign matters from an end surface of the laminated body; and a fastening step of fastening the laminated body to the base again.

Abstract: A motor includes a rotor and a stator. The stator is formed by laminating a plurality of magnetic thin strips each having a plurality of teeth parts. The magnetic thin strip includes an elliptical-shaped inner diameter part formed along tip end portions of the plural teeth parts. At least one magnetic thin strip in the laminated magnetic thin strips is shifted by a given angle with respect to other magnetic thin strips in a horizontal direction, and positions of all teeth parts of the laminated magnetic thin strips correspond to one another to reduce cogging torque.

Abstract: An iron core including a laminate of a plurality of fixed electromagnetic steel sheets, a laminate of alloy thin strips which is sandwiched between the laminate of the electromagnetic steel sheets, a fastening mechanism which penetrates the laminates of electromagnetic steel sheets and alloy thin strips, and a fixing base. The laminate of alloy thin strips reduces compressive and torsional forces acting on the laminate of alloy thin strips by using the iron core having a structure in which upper and lower portions of a laminate of alloy thin strips having nanocrystal grains are sandwiched together with laminates of amorphous alloy thin strips. Furthermore, a motor including a rotor and the above-described iron core is used.

Abstract: A dust core including an iron-based magnetic powder containing iron as a main component, including: a first magnetic powder which has a first peak in a particle size distribution of the iron-based magnetic powder; and a second magnetic powder which has a second peak corresponding to a particle size larger than a particle size corresponding to the first peak in the particle size distribution of the iron-based magnetic powder, and of which a crystal structure is nanocrystal or amorphous, in which a particle of the first magnetic powder and a particle of the second magnetic powder are in a state of being bonded to each other.

Abstract: A soft magnetic powder that can exhibit desirable soft magnetic characteristics. A dust core using the soft magnetic powder is also provided. The soft magnetic powder includes: a soft magnetic powder layer of an unoxidized soft magnetic material; a second oxide layer as an oxide with iron or boron residing around the soft magnetic powder layer; and a first oxide layer of an iron oxide residing around the second oxide layer. The first oxide layer and the second oxide layer reside in a region of 20 nm or more and 500 nm or less from a surface of the soft magnetic powder, and are absent in a region of more than 500 nm and 1,600 nm or less from the surface.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a finer texture for a silicon substrate having a textured surface and thereby obtain a thinner silicon substrate for a solar cell. The invention provides a silicon substrate that has a thickness of 50 [mu]m or less and substrate surface orientation (111), and that has a textured surface on which a texture has been formed. Such a silicon substrate is produced by a process comprising a step (A) for preparing a silicon substrate that preferably has a thickness of 50 [mu]m or less and substrate surface orientation (111), and a step (B) for texturing by blowing etching as comprising a fluorine-containing gas onto the surface of the prepared silicon substrate.

Abstract: A base material is placed on a base material placement face of a base material placement table. An inductively coupled plasma torch unit is structured with a cylindrical chamber structured with a cylinder made of an insulating material and provided with a rectangular slit-like plasma jet port, and lids closing opposing ends of the cylinder, a gas jet port that supplies gas into the cylindrical chamber, and a solenoid coil that generates a high frequency electromagnetic field in the cylindrical chamber. By a high frequency power supply supplying a high frequency power to the solenoid coil, plasma is generated in the cylindrical chamber, and the plasma is emitted from the plasma jet port to the base material. While relatively shifting the plasma torch unit and the base material placement table, a base material surface can be subjected to heat treatment.

Abstract: In a heat treatment apparatus, crystallization can be performed at a relatively low temperature, thereby limiting size of a crystal grain diameter even when a long period of time such as several dozen hours is taken. The heat treatment apparatus is provided with a first temperature mechanism having a heater heating a base material on the back side of the base material as well as a mechanism cooling the front surface of the base material by using coolant on the front surface side of the base material, a second temperature mechanism heating the front surface side of the base material by using any of atmospheric plasma unit, laser and a flash lamp, a third temperature mechanism having a heater heating the base material from the front surface side of the base material, in which the first to third temperature mechanisms are sequentially arranged in this order, and a movement mechanism relatively moves the first to third temperature mechanisms.

Abstract: A first electrode layer (202) that is a multilayer electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer (206), and an ITO layer (210) are sequentially disposed on a glass substrate (201). The ITO layer (210) is a transparent electrode layer serving as a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer (202) includes a Cr layer (203), a mixed layer (204) of Cr and ZnO, and a ZnO layer (205) that are stacked in this order when viewed from the glass substrate (201). The content of Cr in the mixed layer (204) gradually increases toward the Cr layer (203), thereby preventing exfoliation on the Cr layer (203) and the ZnO layer (205) for a long time.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a finer texture for a silicon substrate having a textured surface and thereby obtain a thinner silicon substrate for a solar cell. The invention provides a silicon substrate that has a thickness of 50 [mu]m or less and substrate surface orientation (111), and that has a textured surface on which a texture has been formed. Such a silicon substrate is produced by a process comprising a step (A) for preparing a silicon substrate that preferably has a thickness of 50 [mu]m or less and substrate surface orientation (111), and a step (B) for texturing by blowing etching as comprising a fluorine-containing gas onto the surface of the prepared silicon substrate.

Abstract: In a plasma torch unit, a conductor rod having a spiral shape is disposed inside a quartz pipe having a surface coated with boron glass, and a brass block is disposed on the periphery thereof. While a gas is being supplied into a cylindrical chamber, a high-frequency power is supplied to the conductor rod and a plasma is generated in the cylindrical chamber, so that a base material is irradiated with the plasma.

Abstract: A base material is placed on a base material placement face of a base material placement table. An inductively coupled plasma torch unit is structured with a cylindrical chamber structured with a cylinder made of an insulating material and provided with a rectangular slit-like plasma jet port, and lids closing opposing ends of the cylinder, a gas jet port that supplies gas into the cylindrical chamber, and a solenoid coil that generates a high frequency electromagnetic field in the cylindrical chamber. By a high frequency power supply supplying a high frequency power to the solenoid coil, plasma is generated in the cylindrical chamber, and the plasma is emitted from the plasma jet port to the base material. While relatively shifting the plasma torch unit and the base material placement table, a base material surface can be subjected to heat treatment.