Abstract: A method for producing bipolar plates for production of fuel cells includes uncoiling a first sheet metal foil from a first sheet metal foil coil, and uncoiling a second sheet metal foil from a second sheet metal foil coil, forming the first sheet metal foil and the second sheet metal foil, allocating the first sheet metal foil and the second sheet metal foil based on formed structures of the first sheet metal foil and the second sheet metal foil, and laser welding the first sheet metal foil and the second sheet metal foil transversely to a feed direction of the first sheet metal foil and the second sheet metal foil in a first joining station. The first joining station mutually compresses the first sheet metal foil and the second sheet metal foil. The method further includes removing bipolar plates from the first sheet metal foil and second sheet metal foil.

Abstract: A material deposition unit includes a radiation unit designed to emit electromagnetic radiation in a directed manner onto a workpiece along a beam axis, and a powder discharge device that has multiple powder discharge units configured to discharge powder in a directed form onto the workpiece through powder-outlet openings. The material deposition unit further includes a powder division unit having multiple powder channels. A number of powder channels corresponds to a number of powder discharge units. The powder division unit is designed to distribute a central powder stream guided to a feed channel uniformly over the powder channels. Each respective powder channel is connected to a respective powder discharge unit by an exchangeable connecting element. At least one powder discharge unit has an exchangeable powder discharge element, which is elongate, has a first end and a second end, and is arranged at least partially within the corresponding powder discharge unit.

Abstract: A workpiece processing machine includes a separation device for dividing an operating space into a processing region and at least one additional operating region, a laser processing head configured to process the workpiece, and a rotary workpiece changer having a rotatable workpiece support for transporting the workpiece between the processing region and the at least one additional operating region by an opening. The rotatable workpiece support has a protection wall configured to shield the at least one additional operating region with respect to the processing region. The separation device has a protection element movable between a processing position and a transport position and configured to be in abutment with the protection wall in the processing position to close the opening and spaced apart from the protection wall in the transport position. A spacing between the processing position and the transport position is adjustable based on a dimension of the workpiece.

Abstract: A workpiece processing machine includes a separation device for dividing an operating space into a processing region and at least one additional operating region, a laser processing head configured to process the workpiece, and a rotary workpiece changer having a rotatable workpiece support for transporting the workpiece between the processing region and the at least one additional operating region by an opening. The rotatable workpiece support has a protection wall configured to shield the at least one additional operating region with respect to the processing region. The separation device has a protection element movable between a processing position and a transport position and configured to be in abutment with the protection wall in the processing position to close the opening and spaced apart from the protection wall in the transport position. A spacing between the processing position and the transport position is adjustable based on a dimension of the workpiece.

Abstract: A workpiece processing machine includes a separation device for dividing an operating space into a processing region and at least one additional operating region, a laser processing head configured to process the workpiece, and a rotary workpiece changer having a rotatable workpiece support for transporting the workpiece between the processing region and the at least one additional operating region by an opening. The rotatable workpiece support has a protection wall configured to shield the at least one additional operating region with respect to the processing region. The separation device has a protection element movable between a processing position and a transport position and configured to be in abutment with the protection wall in the processing position to close the opening and spaced apart from the protection wall in the transport position. A spacing between the processing position and the transport position is adjustable based on a dimension of the workpiece.

Abstract: A workpiece processing machine includes a separation device for dividing an operating space into a processing region and at least one additional operating region, a laser processing head configured to process the workpiece, and a rotary workpiece changer having a rotatable workpiece support for transporting the workpiece between the processing region and the at least one additional operating region by an opening. The rotatable workpiece support has a protection wall configured to shield the at least one additional operating region with respect to the processing region. The separation device has a protection element movable between a processing position and a transport position and configured to be in abutment with the protection wall in the processing position to close the opening and spaced apart from the protection wall in the transport position. A spacing between the processing position and the transport position is adjustable based on a dimension of the workpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for introducing a catalyst into a fuel mixture. The method includes placing water in a container; passing air through the water to ionize at least a portion of the air molecules wherein at least a major portion of the air ions have a negative charge; and introducing the ionized air into a fuel mixture. In this manner, the efficiency of the combustion of the fuel mixture is increased. The apparatus includes a container for holding water, a manifold mechanism for passing air through the water in the container in a number of streams of small bubbles and means for removing substantially all mist from the ionized air before the ionized air is removed from the container. Means are provided for removing the ionized air from the container after the air has passed through the water and for then introducing the ionized air into a fuel mixture.