Abstract: In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemical cell. The method includes contacting a solid electrode material and a substrate at an interface. The method further includes preparing a liquid electrode material at the interface by heating at least a portion of the solid electrode material to a first temperature. The first temperature is greater than or equal to a melting point of the solid electrode material. The method further includes creating a layer of the liquid electrode material on the substrate by moving at least one of the solid electrode material and the substrate with respect to the other of the solid electrode material and the substrate. The method further includes forming the electrode by cooling the liquid electrode material to a second temperature. The second temperature is less than or equal to the melting point.

Abstract: A heating system includes a conveying system configured to transport a plurality of vehicle body-in-whites (BIWs) sequentially through an oven room to cure paint applied in a paint room. A preheating system includes one or more robot arms. A heat source is connected to the one or more robot arms. A controller is configured to control the one or more robot arms based on a position of one of the vehicle BIWs on the conveying system and to position the heat source near or in direct contact with one or more inner components of the one of the vehicle BIWs to heat the one or more inner components prior to the one of the vehicle BIWs entering the oven room.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemical cell. The method includes contacting a solid electrode material and a substrate at an interface. The method further includes preparing a liquid electrode material at the interface by heating at least a portion of the solid electrode material to a first temperature. The first temperature is greater than or equal to a melting point of the solid electrode material. The method further includes creating a layer of the liquid electrode material on the substrate by moving at least one of the solid electrode material and the substrate with respect to the other of the solid electrode material and the substrate. The method further includes forming the electrode by cooling the liquid electrode material to a second temperature. The second temperature is less than or equal to the melting point.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for magnetic welding of battery boils comprising a coil holder; where the coil holder comprises one or more electrical coils that are operative to be activated by an electrical current; a foil holding fixture; wherein the foil holding fixture comprises a plurality of arms; wherein each pair of adjacent arms is operative to move towards one another to crimp a plurality of battery foils; and an anvil; wherein the anvil is operative to support a battery tab and the battery foils.

Abstract: A method comprises deforming one or more metal foils of a battery between a punch and a die to form bent metal foils. The one or more bent metal foils are disposed in a foil holding fixture with a battery lead disposed next to the one or more bent metal foils such that a bent portion of the one or more bent metal foils are separated from the battery lead by a distance of 0.1 to 2 millimeters. The one or more bent metal foils are impact welded by causing the foils to impact one another or to impact a battery lead at a velocity of speeds of 300 to 900 meters per second.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses of a welding system are disclosed and include a first stage of a scanning device for scanning weld parts to generate a three-dimensional (3D) profile of a weld target wherein the 3D profile captures matching imperfections of a meeting together of the set of weld parts when performing the weld operation; and the second stage of a monitoring device to monitor the weld operation and to generate a data of high-resolution measurements of the weld operation; wherein the first stage further includes the monitoring device determining a weld schedule based on the 3D profile, and to adjust the weld schedule while the weld operation progresses to adapt to predicted distortion based on the 3D profile and to sensed distortion; wherein the second stage further includes a plurality of sensors to sense a set of components associated with the weld operation to generate high-resolution data of measurements.

Abstract: A multistage centrifugal atomizer comprises an outer shell that contains an inlet port and an outlet port and that encloses a tundish, a first inclined rotating surface and a second inclined rotating surface. The first inclined rotating surface is opposedly disposed to the second inclined rotating surface. The inlet is used to introduce a molten material into the multistage atomizer and the outlet is used to remove ultrafine particles having a D50 of less than 20 micrometers.

Abstract: A method for accelerating an explicit finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of a modeled system or process includes performing an initial iteration of the FEA simulation according to a baseline time interval via an FEA computing network, and calculating a criteria ratio of a predetermined set of scaling criteria for the modeled system or process. The method includes determining a time-scaling factor using the criteria ratio via the FEA computing network as a function of the criteria ratio, and then applying the time-scaling factor to the baseline time interval to generate a scaled time interval. The scaled time interval accelerates simulation time of the FEA simulation. The method includes performing a subsequent iteration of the explicit FEA simulation at the scaled time interval using the FEA computing network. The process continues for subsequent iterations, with the time-scaling factor adapting with each iteration.

Abstract: A clamp system and method for measurement and control of welding a first substrate to a second substrate is provided. The system comprises a squeeze clamp having to a first end and a second end. The system further comprises a motor connected to the squeeze clamp such that the first and second ends are movable to clamp the first substrate to the second substrate. The system further comprises at least one of an electromagnetic flux sensor, a current sensor, a position sensor, and a gap sensor disposed on one of the first and second ends for determining a first measured variable between the first and second substrates. The system further comprises a controller to control the motor to clamp the first substrate to the second substrate based on the first measured variable. The controller is in communication with the electromagnetic flux sensor, the current sensor, and the gap sensor.

Abstract: A welding block for a welding system secures together first and second components of a workpiece for a motor vehicle to reduce distortion of the first and second components during a welding process. The welding block includes a jig mechanism that has a proximal surface for receiving a load from an arm of the welding system. The jig mechanism further includes a distal surface for engaging the first component and securing the first and second components to one another during the welding process. The jig mechanism defines a passage, such that heat flows from the distal surface to a coolant flowing through the passage. The welding block further includes a sensor coupled to the jig mechanism for detecting a measured variable associated with at least one of the first and second components.

Abstract: A clamp system and method for measurement and control of welding a first substrate to a second substrate is provided. The system comprises a squeeze clamp having to a first end and a second end. The system further comprises a motor connected to the squeeze clamp such that the first and second ends are movable to clamp the first substrate to the second substrate. The system further comprises at least one of an electromagnetic flux sensor, a current sensor, a position sensor, and a gap sensor disposed on one of the first and second ends for determining a first measured variable between the first and second substrates. The system further comprises a controller to control the motor to clamp the first substrate to the second substrate based on the first measured variable. The controller is in communication with the electromagnetic flux sensor, the current sensor, and the gap sensor.

Abstract: A multistage centrifugal atomizer comprises an outer shell that contains an inlet port and an outlet port and that encloses a tundish, a first inclined rotating surface and a second inclined rotating surface. The first inclined rotating surface is opposedly disposed to the second inclined rotating surface. The inlet is used to introduce a molten material into the multistage atomizer and the outlet is used to remove ultrafine particles having a D50 of less than 20 micrometers.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a lithium metal battery may be manufactured by welding together a lithium metal layer and a metallic current collector layer. The lithium metal layer and the current collector layer may be arranged adjacent one another and in an at least partially lapped configuration such that faying surfaces of the layers confront one another and establish a faying interface therebetween at a weld site. A laser beam may be directed at an outer surface of the current collector layer at the weld site to melt a portion of the lithium metal layer adjacent the faying surface of the current collector layer and produce a lithium metal molten weld pool. The laser beam may be terminated to solidify the molten weld pool into a solid weld joint that physically bonds the lithium metal layer and the current collector layer together at the weld site.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a lithium metal battery may be manufactured by joining together a metallic current collector piece and a lithium metal piece. The metallic current collector piece may be positioned adjacent the lithium metal piece in an at least partially lapped configuration at a weld site. A laser beam may be directed at an upper surface of the metallic current collector piece at the weld site to melt a portion of the lithium metal piece adjacent the metallic current collector piece and produce a lithium metal molten weld pool. The second laser beam may be terminated to solidify the lithium metal molten weld pool into a solid weld joint that physically bonds the lithium metal piece and the metallic current collector piece together at the weld site.

Abstract: A method for accelerating an explicit finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of a modeled system or process includes performing an initial iteration of the FEA simulation according to a baseline time interval via an FEA computing network, and calculating a criteria ratio of a predetermined set of scaling criteria for the modeled system or process. The method includes determining a time-scaling factor using the criteria ratio via the FEA computing network as a function of the criteria ratio, and then applying the time-scaling factor to the baseline time interval to generate a scaled time interval. The scaled time interval accelerates simulation time of the FEA simulation. The method includes performing a subsequent iteration of the explicit FEA simulation at the scaled time interval using the FEA computing network. The process continues for subsequent iterations, with the time-scaling factor adapting with each iteration.

Abstract: An apparatus for in-situ monitoring of a welded joint in a workpiece includes an ultrasonic sending transducer and a receiving transducer. The ultrasonic sending transducer includes a probe head disposed on a plurality of individually-activatable piezoelectric elements, and a plurality of waveguide probes projecting orthogonally from a planar surface. A wave attenuator is disposed between individual ones of the waveguide probes. A receiving transducer is disposed therein. The workpiece is insertable between the waveguide probes of the ultrasonic sending transducer and the receiving transducer. The ultrasonic sending transducer urges the probe head towards the receiving transducer such that the waveguide probes physically contact the welded joint in the workpiece. The piezoelectric elements individually excite the waveguide probe that is in physical contact with the welded joint in the workpiece. The acoustic receiving transducer is disposed to monitor the welded joint in the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for evaluating a battery cell. The battery cell may include a hermetically sealed outer casing, a plurality of electrically conductive components enclosed within the outer casing, an electrically conductive terminal having a proximal end that extends within the outer casing and a distal end that extends in a longitudinal direction relative to the battery cell outside the outer casing, and a solid electrical and mechanical joint formed between one or more of the electrically conductive components and the proximal end of the electrically conductive terminal. Evaluation of the battery cell may include measuring the impedance of the battery cell while applying a longitudinal pulling force or a transverse bending force to the electrically conductive terminal and the solid electrical and mechanical joint.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a lithium metal battery may be manufactured by joining together a metallic current collector piece and a lithium metal piece. The metallic current collector piece may be positioned adjacent the lithium metal piece in an at least partially lapped configuration at a weld site. A laser beam may be directed at an upper surface of the metallic current collector piece at the weld site to melt a portion of the lithium metal piece adjacent the metallic current collector piece and produce a lithium metal molten weld pool. The second laser beam may be terminated to solidify the lithium metal molten weld pool into a solid weld joint that physically bonds the lithium metal piece and the metallic current collector piece together at the weld site.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a lithium metal battery may be manufactured by welding together a lithium metal layer and a metallic current collector layer. The lithium metal layer and the current collector layer may be arranged adjacent one another and in an at least partially lapped configuration such that faying surfaces of the layers confront one another and establish a faying interface therebetween at a weld site. A laser beam may be directed at an outer surface of the current collector layer at the weld site to melt a portion of the lithium metal layer adjacent the faying surface of the current collector layer and produce a lithium metal molten weld pool. The laser beam may be terminated to solidify the molten weld pool into a solid weld joint that physically bonds the lithium metal layer and the current collector layer together at the weld site.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for evaluating a battery cell. The battery cell may include a hermetically sealed outer casing, a plurality of electrically conductive components enclosed within the outer casing, an electrically conductive terminal having a proximal end that extends within the outer casing and a distal end that extends in a longitudinal direction relative to the battery cell outside the outer casing, and a solid electrical and mechanical joint formed between one or more of the electrically conductive components and the proximal end of the electrically conductive terminal. Evaluation of the battery cell may include measuring the impedance of the battery cell while applying a longitudinal pulling force or a transverse bending force to the electrically conductive terminal and the solid electrical and mechanical joint.