Abstract: There are provided a spot welding apparatus and a spot welding method. A workpiece is clamped between a combination of a second welding electrode and a receiving unit that abut against a thinner plate, and a first welding electrode that abuts against a second thicker plate, a pressure is applied to the workpiece by the first welding electrode, and a current is passed between the welding electrodes. Consequently, a satisfactory nugget is formed over from the thinner plate to the second thicker plate. Similarly, a workpiece is clamped between a combination of the first welding electrode and the receiving unit that abut against a thinner plate, and the second welding electrode that abuts against a second thicker plate, a pressure is applied to the workpiece by the second welding electrode. Consequently, a satisfactory nugget is formed over from the thinner plate to the second thicker plate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for dressing a resistance stop welding (RSW) tip and a tip dresser apparatus. According to the method, a circumferential shoulder is cut to a predetermined depth from a distal end of the RSW tip. The shoulder is cut in the side wall to provide a reduced radius side wall and a reduced radius distal end on the RSW tip. The depth of dressing the distal end of the RSW tip is controlled by providing a stop that engages a step formed in the side wall formed by the circumferential shoulder. The tip dresser apparatus includes a first cutting blade retained by a first holder that cuts a step into the side wall to a predetermined depth. A second cutting blade retained by a second holder cuts a radiused surface on the distal end until the stop engages the step.

Abstract: A tool and method for bonding layers of a shell by the differential pressure bonding process. The tool and method includes a plurality of separable mandrel segments that combine to form a mandrel having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an upper end, and at least one substantially continuous inner surface. The inner surface has a substantially axisymmetric shape having complex curvature. In this embodiment, the tool further includes a retort configured to at least partially shroud the outer surface and upper end of the hollow body. The retort includes at least one vacuum port. The tool is configured to facilitate the compression of a plurality of layers of a multi-layer shell having complex curvature as the shell layers and an interdisposed bonding material are heated to an elevated bonding temperature.

Abstract: System for friction stir welding of two parts which includes a welding unit which includes at least one welding head fitted with a rotating pin and a counter-bearing unit which has a support surface to support the parts against a pressure exerted by the welding head, and wherein each welding head can be moved relative to the support surface in a first direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotating pin and in a second direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation, and wherein the support surface can be moved in the second direction and is formed of two coaxial clamp rollers which are set apart from each other.

Abstract: A hexagonal single crystal wafer is produced from a hexagonal single crystal ingot. A separation start point is formed by setting a focal point of a laser beam inside the ingot at a predetermined depth from the upper surface of the ingot, which depth corresponds to the thickness of the wafer to be produced, and next applying the laser beam to the upper surface of the ingot while relatively moving the focal point and the ingot to thereby form a modified layer parallel to the upper surface of the ingot and form cracks extending from the modified layer along a c-plane, thus forming a separation start point. The focal point is indexed by relatively moving the focal point in the direction where an off angle is formed and the c-plane is inclined downward.

Abstract: A voice coil motor includes a coil support, a coil wound on the coil support, and two opposing lower elastic plates disposed on an upper part of the coil support. The outer edge of an upper flange of the coil support has at least two opposing protrusions which are arranged radially. The coil has a head end and a tail end which are respectively wound on the two protrusions. The two lower elastic plates are respectively connected with the coil wound on the two protrusions by welding. To prevent the head end from slanting, the lower elastic plates are mounted on the coil support through the operation of an automation apparatus to be soldered with the coil wound on the protrusions. The connection of the coil and the lower elastic plates is thus firm.

Abstract: An object is to form a rough surface for ensuring adhesion between a metal member and other members, or a rough surface for suppressing solder expansion in the metal member using an energy beam having energy density lower than a related art. A surface processing method of a metal member, in which a metal thin film is arranged on a surface of a base, includes: melting or evaporating a surface portion of the metal thin film by irradiating the metal thin film with a pulse-oscillated laser beam having energy density of 100 J/cm2 or less and a pulse width of 1 ?s or less; and roughening the surface of the metal thin film by solidifying the surface portion of the metal thin film after the melting or evaporating. The metal thin film is made of at least one of Ni, Au, Pd, and Ag as a main component.

Abstract: A welding laser beam (L1) is radiated along welding loci (C11, C12) set in workpieces (W1, W2), or an inspection laser beam (L5) is radiated along scanning loci (C51, C52) set in a molten pool (Y1) of the workpieces that are molten by radiation of the welding laser beam, a returned light beam (L2) including reflection light from the molten pool, vapor light caused due to melting and evaporation of the workpieces, and thermal radiation light emitted from the molten pool is received, and a welding state of a welded portion of the workpieces is inspected based on an intensity of a returned light beam received in a first region inside the molten pool which is relatively close to a given point and an intensity of a returned light beam received in a second region inside the molten pool which is relatively spaced from the given point.

Abstract: Method for performing maintenance of an electric installation including at least one electric equipment unit comprising: entry and storing in a database of data representative of an electric installation to be monitored and of data representative of electric equipment settings and parameters, storing of data representative of events in a database so as to constitute an events history, detection of malfunctioning disturbances, analysis of causes of malfunctioning of the electric installation, management of restoration of operation of a part of the installation. Management of restoration of operation comprises monitoring by a decision tree to evaluate a criticality level.

Abstract: A material is deposited on the surface of a piece to be repaired, by means of two steps of electro-spark deposition alternated with an intermediate compaction step, which reduces the surface asperity of a layer of material deposited before another material is deposited; the compaction phase is defined by shot peening, performed by means of shots supported by at least one flexible element supported projecting from a rotating shaft.

Abstract: A device for repairing a damaged zone in a first cavity, with a first diameter, of an intermediate layer interposed between two layers that have a second cavity with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The device includes a stop that forms an abutment at the interface between the first cavity and one of the second cavities, a ring having a deformable corrugated shape, an initial inside diameter, an initial outside diameter smaller than the second diameter, and being positioned in the first cavity, a deformation element having an elastically variable outside diameter initially smaller than the initial inside diameter of the ring, and a tool being able to increase the outside diameter of the deformation element so that it deforms the ring in the first cavity in order to reduce the difference between the first and second diameters.

Abstract: A method of reshaping a turbine engine blade including at least one deformed zone, the method including peening the deformed zone to be able to restore a shape of the at least one deformed zone.

Abstract: A motor-powered machine tool includes a drum-like tool-changing magazine having tool chambers. The magazine is arranged inside a housing, and when the tool is in a change position, one of the tool chambers of the tool-changing magazine is aligned with a tubular tool holder. The tool further includes a sliding element configured to slide a tool from the tool-changing magazine into the tool holder and from the tool holder back into the tool-changing magazine. The sliding element is movable in a longitudinal direction of the tool holder. In at least one embodiment, the sliding element is coupled with a gearbox system which includes at least one toothed gear. The rotational motion of the toothed gear is translated into linear movement of the sliding element.

Abstract: A substrate-retaining device with improved thermal uniformity is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the substrate-retaining device includes a substantially circular first surface with a defined perimeter, a plurality of contact regions disposed at the perimeter, and a plurality of noncontact regions also disposed at the perimeter. The contact regions are interspersed with the noncontact regions. Within each of the noncontact regions, the first surface extends past where the first surface ends within each of the contact regions. In some such embodiments, each region of the plurality of contact regions includes a contact surface disposed above the first surface.

Abstract: A milling machine and method for automatically determining the Z origin are provided. In one embodiment, a milling machine comprises a support surface; a clamp comprising a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion to accept and secure a work piece, wherein the second clamp portion comprises a sensor; a spindle movable in a Z direction; and a controller. The controller is configured to automatically determine a position of a top of the work piece by having the spindle be positioned over the sensor and then moving the spindle in the Z direction until the controller receives a signal from the sensor indicating that a tool held by the spindle contacted the sensor. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A braking mechanism includes a rack, a receiving member, a braking member, a base seat, a resetting member and an elastic member. Two ends of the resetting member abut the base seat and the receiving member, and the elastic member is positioned between the base seat and the braking member. The elastic member and the resetting member are positioned at opposite sides of the braking member. The base seat includes a first guiding portion, the braking member includes a second guiding portion and an engaging part. The second guiding portion is capable of moving along the first guiding portion under an elastic restorative force of the resetting member and the elastic member, such that the engaging part is engaged with the rack.

Abstract: The present document describes a blade sharpening system comprising a blade sharpening device, a blade holding apparatus and a controller operatively coupled to the blade sharpening device and said blade holding apparatus to control sharpening of said blade, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus polishes a periphery of a substrate. This polishing apparatus includes a rotary holding mechanism configured to hold the substrate horizontally and rotate the substrate, plural polishing head assemblies provided around the substrate, plural tape supplying and recovering mechanisms configured to supply polishing tapes to the plural polishing head assemblies and recover the polishing tapes from the plural polishing head assemblies, and plural moving mechanisms configured to move the plural polishing head assemblies in radial directions of the substrate held by the rotary holding mechanism. The tape supplying and recovering mechanisms are located outwardly of the plural polishing head assemblies in the radial directions of the substrate, and the tape supplying and recovering mechanisms are fixed in position.

Abstract: The present invention is about the design and manufacturing method of constructing nano-structured lattices. The design of the four periodic two-dimensional lattices (hexagonal, triangulated, square and Kagome) is described; and the process of making nano-structured lattices is outlined in the present invention.

Abstract: An abrasive particulate material which is made of alumina crystals and a primary additive composition impregnated within the abrasive particulate material, the primary additive composition including a combination of Mg and Ca, wherein Mg and Ca are present in an additive ratio [Mg:Ca] within a range between about 1:1 and about 10:1, and a Ca amount is at least about 0.2 wt % Ca for the total weight of the abrasive particulate material.

Abstract: The disclosed cemented carbide base outer blade cutting wheel comprises a base in the form of an annular thin disc of cemented carbide, and a blade section on the outer periphery of the base. The blade section contains: diamond and/or CBN abrasive grains pre-coated with a magnetic material; a metal or alloy bond formed by electroplating or electroless plating for bonding abrasive grains together and to the base; and a metal or alloy binder having a melting point of up to 350° C. infiltrated between abrasive grains and between abrasive grains and the base. The method for manufacturing said outer blade cutting wheel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device and method for holding a bit for a tool. The holding device, which is secured to a support surface, includes a housing having a base, a first leg and a second leg. A slot is defined between the first and second legs and the shank of the bit is received through one of a plurality of differently dimensioned apertures defined along the slot between the first and second legs. An adjustment assembly is engaged with the first and second legs and is movable to a first position to clamp the shank in the selected aperture; and is movable to a second position to release the shank. When the adjustment assembly is moved from the second position to the first position, a free end of the second leg bends toward the first leg, thereby reducing the diameter of the aperture within which the shank is received.

Abstract: A socket tool set having a plurality of individual sockets with varying diameters and lengths coaxially nested within one another and a key which is slidably engaged with said sockets during storage of the tool set. During use the key operationally engages an individual socket and serves as an extension to said socket.

Abstract: A dual-head tool has a handle with a longitudinal bore extending longitudinally its entire length. A shaft is housed within the bore and may be slid longitudinally to expose either of its two tool heads, but not both simultaneously. A lock arm is pushed down so that it is flush with the shaft and handle and a cam on the lock arm engages a recess in the shaft so that the shaft is firmly held extending out of one side of the handle to allow use of one of the tool heads. The head of the lock arm covers the open end of the bore not in use. A piston biased by a spring engages a keyway in the shaft to prevent the shaft from being removed from the bore.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly tool includes a frame coupled to a gun body, and a push rod configured to traverse through the frame and the gun body, the gun body having a fixed handle and a trigger for causing distal movement of the push rod as the trigger moves towards the fixed handle. The tool further includes a pressure rod coupled to or forming a portion of the push rod, the pressure rod being arranged and constructed to apply pressure to a tip of a fuel injector to compress springs within the fuel injector and maintain internal alignment of fuel injector components. In one arrangement, the tool includes a pressure rod adaptor nut coupling the push rod to the pressure rod. A method of re-assembly of a fuel injector using the fuel injector assembly tool is disclosed. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A filter remover removes a cylindrical filter element housed in a housing through an opening provided in the housing. The filter remover includes: an attachment portion provided with a screw to be screwed onto the opening; an insert portion that includes a base end integrated with the attachment portion and a tip end in a form of a free end, that is elastically deformable in a radial direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the filter element in conjunction with a movement in the axial direction caused when the attachment portion is screwed, and that is inserted through the opening into a center hole provided in the filter element as the attachment portion is screwed; and an engaging portion that is provided at the tip end and that is engaged with the filter element after the attachment portion is moved for a predetermined amount when the attachment portion is screwed.

Abstract: A nail plate tool which aids in positioning and installing nail plates in hard-to-reach areas. The nail plate tool generally includes an elongated portion having a handle portion at its first end and a holder portion at its second end. The handle portion is adapted to be grasped by a user and the holder portion is adapted to removably retain a nail plate against the nail plate tool, such as through use of a magnet. By removably securing the nail plate to the holder portion, an individual may more easily reach areas to install a nail plate.

Abstract: A hammer having a hallowed handle to house a telescopic rod that uses a magnetic member to retrieve metal-based objects that may have fallen away from a user or fallen into a hard to reach space. This improvement can be used with hammers having nail-extracting claws opposite their face or peen-style hammers. In an alternate embodiment, the improvement can be used with claws that have nail-extracting slits at their distal ends to extract nails that are in locations too difficult to reach with conventional claws.

Abstract: A battery operated handheld power tool, comprising a working tool assembly (20), a handle assembly (10) and an elongate tubular rod (30). The working tool assembly (20) comprises a motor housing (26) having a first inner space (27), comprising an electric motor (21) with a fan (25). The first inner space (27) is connected to the exterior of the working tool assembly (20) by means of at least one air outlet (28). The handle assembly (10) comprises a second inner space (19) in which a control unit (15) is positioned, the second inner space (19) being in flow communication with the exterior of the handle assembly (10). The elongate tubular rod (30) defines an air guiding channel (33), in flow communication with the first inner space (27) and the second inner space (19).

Abstract: A robot control apparatus includes a transformation-matrix generating unit that generates, on the basis of N first command values for learning per one robot, which are position-corrected command values for positioning a master robot and a slave robot on tracks of their respective robots during the synchronous driving, concerning the respective N command values for learning, transformation matrices among the command values for learning, a command-value storing unit that outputs a first command value for driving at each of M operation periods for defining the track of the master robot, a transformation-matrix -function generating unit and a command-value generating unit that interpolate the N transformation matrices and generate a transformation matrix at the each first command value for driving, and a command-value generating unit that causes the transformation matrices to act on the M first command values for driving and generates M second command values for driving of the slave robot.

Abstract: A manipulator includes an elongated main portion, a distal end portion, and a bendable portion provided between the main portion and the distal end portion; a plurality of linear members that extend from the distal end portion to the main portion via the bendable portion; a power generator; a plurality of power transmitters that transmit, to proximal ends of the linear members, the power generated by the power generator as linear motion in a longitudinal direction of the main portion; and a linear-member relaxing unit that relaxes the linear members in which tension is generated between the distal end portion and the power transmitters by pushing and pulling of the linear members by the linear motion transmitted from the power transmitters.

Abstract: A time-optimal trajectory generation method, for a robotic manipulator having a transport path with at least one path segment, comprising generating a forward time-optimal trajectory of the manipulator along the at least one path segment from a start point of the at least one path segment towards an end point of the at least one path segment, generating a reverse time-optimal trajectory of the manipulator along the at least one path segment from the end point towards the start point of the at least one path segment, and combining the time-optimal forward and reverse trajectories to obtain a complete time-optimal trajectory, where the forward and reverse trajectories of the at least one path segment are blended together with a smoothing bridge joining the time-optimal forward and reverse trajectories in a position-velocity reference frame with substantially no discontinuity between the time-optimal forward and reverse trajectories.

Abstract: A robot control system detects a position and a direction of each user by a plurality of range image sensors provided in an exhibition hall. A central controller records an inspection action after a user attends the exhibition hall until the user leaves to generate an inspection action table. When the user attends again, the central controller reads a history of inspection action from the inspection action table. Then, the central controller chooses from an utterance content table an utterance content containing a phrase that mentions the inspection action included in the history at a time of last time attendance, determines the utterance content, and makes a robot output the determined utterance content to the user.

Abstract: A control apparatus calculates a calibration value based on a position in the robot coordinate system 41 and a position in the vision coordinate system 42, for at least three teaching points set within a calibration area. Markers 21 of two of the three teaching points have the same inclination in relation to an optical axis of a camera 3 as a visual sensor, and the two points are placed on different positions of the same plane normal to the optical axis. The remaining one of the three teaching points other than the two points is set such that the inclination of the marker 21 in relation to the optical axis is different from that of the two points. As a result, influence of a large quantization error in the optical axis direction as a measurement error of the camera 3 can be reduced.

Abstract: A control system may receive a first plurality of measurements indicative of respective joint angles corresponding to a plurality of sensors connected to a robot. The robot may include a body and a plurality of jointed limbs connected to the body associated with respective properties. The control system may also receive a body orientation measurement indicative of an orientation of the body of the robot. The control system may further determine a relationship between the first plurality of measurements and the body orientation measurement based on the properties associated with the jointed limbs of the robot. Additionally, the control system may estimate an aggregate orientation of the robot based on the first plurality of measurements, the body orientation measurement, and the determined relationship. Further, the control system may provide instructions to control at least one jointed limb of the robot based on the estimated aggregate orientation of the robot.

Abstract: A robot controller includes a force control unit that outputs a correction value of a target track of a robot based on a detected sensor value acquired from a force sensor, a target value output unit that obtains a target value by performing correction processing on the target track based on the correction value and outputs the obtained target value, and a robot control unit that performs feedback control of the robot based on the target value. The force control unit includes an impedance processor that obtains a solution of a differential equation in force control as the correction value before the conversion processing, and a nonlinear convertor that obtains the correction value after the conversion processing by performing nonlinear conversion processing on the correction value before the conversion processing acquired from the impedance processor and outputs the obtained correction value after the conversion processing.

Abstract: The robot system includes: a robot for performing predetermined operations on an object placed at a first object position; a first robot position storage configured to store the position of an arm end arranged in a predetermined positional relationship relative to the first object position; a target arrival state data storage configured to store feature quantities of the object on the camera image; a robot movement amount calculator configured to calculate the amount of movement in order to make the feature quantities of the object placed at a second object position coincide with the feature quantities of the target arrival state data; and a correction data calculator configured to calculate correction data based on the difference between the second robot position when the arm end has been moved based on the amount of movement and the first robot position.

Abstract: Technology for securing a line, such as a fiber optic line, to a structure, such as a utility pole. In one aspect, a clamp is provided. The clamp includes a body, a first nub located at a first position on the body, and a first receptacle located at a second position on the body, wherein the first receptacle is connectable with a second nub that is secured to a pole-mount, and the first nub is connectable with a second receptacle that is secured to an aerial drone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a feeding assistant robot, which assists in feeding patients or the elderly and infirm who have difficulty in moving their arms and thus have difficulty in feeding themselves. The feeding assistant robot includes: a picking arm including a gripper for picking up food placed on a tray; a feeding arm, including a spoon on which the food picked up by the picking arm is placed, for moving the spoon to the mouth of a user; an input device enabling the user to direct the movements of the picking arm and of the feeding arm; and a control unit electrically connected to the picking arm, the feeding arm, and the manipulation part to control the movements of the picking arm and the feeding arm according to the commands from the input device.

Abstract: A test gripper is provided that decreases an equipment cost and increases a test precision by integrating and simplifying a jig and a test apparatus into the gripper. The test gripper is configured to align and test a component and includes a frame that has a mounting part installed on a robot arm. In addition, a plurality of pins are installed on the frame and are fitted into apertures of the component to align the component and the test gripper. A measuring sensor is also installed on the frame and is configured to test a precision of the component.

Abstract: A grasping apparatus for grasping an object includes at least two grasping portions and at least two pressure sensing mechanisms disposed in the corresponding grasping portions. The pressure sensing mechanism detects a grasping force between the grasping portions while grasping the object. The pressure sensing mechanism includes two parallel metal films and an elastic portion therebetween. The elastic portion deforms to decrease the distance between the metal films for sensing the grasping force.

Abstract: A multi-axis robot includes: a base with a hollow; a support member with a hollow, the support member constituting a proximal end portion of an arm of the multi-axis robot; and a guide pipe configured to rotate together with the support member, the guide pipe being configured such that one end of the guide pipe is rotatably inserted in the base, and inner space of the guide pipe is in communication with inner space of the support member and inner space of the base. A notch is formed in a peripheral surface of an end portion of the guide pipe, the end portion being positioned in the base. A motor cable extends to reach the notch from radially outside of the guide pipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pocket tool with a housing, a compartment region, pins (11a, 11b) and an implement (13) interchangeably mounted on one of the pins (11a, 11b) by means of a coupling mechanism (22) and which can be moved by means of a pivot bearing (18) between an inwardly pivoted transport position and an outwardly pivoted functional position, which is mounted against a spring element and can be moved relative to the pin (11a, 11b) into an uncoupling position and removed from the pocket tool. The coupling mechanism (22) has a guide track guiding the implement (13) in the uncoupling position at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis (68) of the housing (2) during its uncoupling movement along the compartment region.

Abstract: A razor cartridge is provided including a blade unit having a first side wall, a second side wall, and a pair of end walls interconnecting the first side wall and the second side wall and one or both of the side walls of the blade unit having at least one connection member. A plurality of blades secured to the blade unit with a clip positioned at each end of the blade unit adjacent to the end walls. A frame is provided having a first interior wall and a second interior wall spaced apart from first interior wall that define an opening extending completely through the frame. One or more of the interior walls of the frame include at least one connection member, the latter engaged with the at least one connection member of the blade unit so that the frame is secured to the blade unit.

Abstract: A circular cutting blade is configured for cutting meat when turned about a rotation axis in a predetermined cutting direction. The cutting blade has a peripheral blade edge defined between the first and second sides and a plurality of circumferentially disposed cutting knives. Each cutting knife includes first and second knife sides and an arcuate knife edge that constitutes a portion of the peripheral blade edge. Each knife edge rises, relative to the rotation axis, between a first blade-edge location corresponding to a minor blade radius and a second blade-edge location corresponding to a major blade radius and further includes beveled primary and secondary knife-edge portions along which the first and second knife sides mutually converge at, respectively, a first bevel angle and a second bevel angle less acute than the first bevel angle.

Abstract: Apparatuses for cutting food product are provided having a cutting head. The cutting head includes one or more knife assemblies. Each knife assembly includes a knife extending toward the food product and is adapter to secure the knife to the cutting head. The knife has a corrugated shape to produce a food product slice with generally parallel cuts wherein the food product slice has a periodic shape and a large-amplitude cross-section.

Abstract: A rotary cutting apparatus is configured to rotate about a first longitudinal axis. The cutting roll includes a cutting member. The apparatus includes an anvil roll that is configured to rotate about a second longitudinal axis. The anvil roll is positioned relative to the cutting roll such that the first longitudinal axis is substantially parallel with the second longitudinal axis. The anvil roll includes an outer circumferential surface. The second longitudinal axis is selectively movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first longitudinal axis. In the first position, a first minimum distance is defined between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis. In the second position, a second minimum distance is defined between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis, and wherein the second minimum distance is greater than the first minimum distance.

Abstract: A punching device includes: a die seat; a punch seat; an interconnecting member interconnecting the die seat and the punch seat; a punch; first and second pivot parts; a first lever pivoted to the first pivot part and having two first side walls and two side flanges that extend respectively from lower ends of the first side walls; a second lever pivoted to the second pivot part and having two second side walls that abut against the side flanges for driving rotation of the first lever relative to the first pivot part; and an urging member for urging the punch.

Abstract: An initial processing of natural raw rubber through an initial processing machine, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a coagulated latex which contains water and volatile compositions; (b) dewatering the coagulated latex through a screw-pressing process to remove free water; (c) forming a first pretreated latex material; (d) aging the first pretreated latex material through an aging process to remove water and volatile compositions; and (e) forming a final product of aged latex material. The screw-pressing process makes use of the temperature and pressure increase along the elongated channel structure. The aging process makes use of the further temperature and pressure increase of the rubber materials, together with the screwing effect of the screw-shaft component, the squeezing effect of the nozzle and additional heating at a particular location, which is around the mouthpiece of the nozzle to complete the aging process, which is energy saving, effective and efficient.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a jig including a flat surface with a curved groove therein; a light guide located within the curved groove, the light guide including an internal groove; and a bend-aid located in the internal groove of the light guide.