Abstract: A spinning thickening forming method is a method of, while rotating a plate including a center portion fixed to a fixing jig, increasing a thickness of a peripheral portion of the plate. Specifically, while locally heating the peripheral portion of the plate such that at least a portion of the plate which is adjacent to the fixing jig maintains stiffness, a forming roller is pressed against the peripheral portion of the plate to compress the peripheral portion in at least a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction of the peripheral portion.

Abstract: A hot press-forming method includes a forming step that clamps a steel sheet heated to a temperature not less than an austenite transformation temperature and press-forms the steel sheet into a desired shape by causing a forming concave of a die and a convex of a punch to be close to each other. A formed portion has side and top portions that merge. The side portion rises up from an inner circumferential edge of a flange portion having been clamped by the die and the blank holder. A cooling step cools a region of the steel sheet after the heating step has been completed and before the forming step is completed. The particular region is along an inter-edge area formed between an opening circumferential edge of the forming concave and a top circumferential edge of the forming convex before the forming step is completed.

Abstract: A connection between metal studs and bridging members using a separate light gauge bridging connector with teardrop-shaped interface notches and longitudinally-offset interface notches.

Abstract: To provide a stacking apparatus and a stack manufacturing system having high accuracy and productivity. A stacking apparatus 10 includes: a stage unit 4 on which a material to be stacked 90 is placed; a sandwiching member 11 that is vertically movable with respect to the stage unit 4, and between which and the stage unit 4 the material to be stacked 90 is sandwiched; a press member 13 that is vertically movable with respect to the sandwiching member 11 and presses the material to be stacked 90; and a guide pin 14 that guides a stack 91a pressed and stamped out of the material to be stacked 90 by the press member 13.

Abstract: A rotary slide moves blanks cyclically from stage to stage of a cutting and processing tool. Work pieces are transferred in and out of the tool, without moving the slide in and out of the tool. The slide has a plurality of transfer openings and a discharge opening. Individual processing stages, including a discharge stage, are designed as separate components that support one another. The stages are arranged about a rotating axis of the slide. The transfer openings and the discharge opening lie in a circular path that coincides with circular paths of active elements of the cutting stage, the processing stages and the discharge stage. The openings have a distance from one another that is identical to the distance of the active elements in the circular paths.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a metal can body is described in which two or more stretching operations are used so as to reduce the thickness of the central part of a cup base, prior to drawing the cup sidewall and forming a can body. By using two or more stretching operations, it has been found possible to control the thickness of the base without significantly reducing pressure performance of the finished can. Alternative embodiments of apparatus comprising tooling for carrying out this method are also described.

Abstract: A system and method of forming a metal container with a featured sidewall may include providing a blow molded metal container. The metal container may be positioned into a mold inclusive of at least one sidewall feature. The metal container may be blow molded again to cause the at least one sidewall feature to be created in the sidewall of the container as defined by the mold. In one embodiment, a sidewall of the metal container may be at least partially annealed. The sidewall feature may include a portion of a profile of a sporting good, such as a baseball, embossed feature (e.g., word), logo, or otherwise. The metal container may be a shaped metal container.

Abstract: A blind rivet setting device and method of setting a blind rivet. The device includes a housing; a pulling mechanism, arranged in the housing, that includes a chuck housing movable in a pulling direction and clamping jaws movable along a clamping distance in the chuck housing; an electric drive, structured and arranged to act on the chuck housing, that includes a control device; an electric battery structured and arranged as an energy source for the electric drive; and a spring structured and arranged in the chuck housing to apply a force to clamping jaws. For each clamping jaw, the chuck housing includes a guide path with a path base obliquely oriented to the pulling direction, and a back of each clamping jaw is supported against its respective path base over the clamping distance.

Abstract: A transport device, in particular, for transporting cooling blocks (5) in a casting machine with caterpillar mold, wherein the transport device includes: a plurality of roller elements (4), which circulate endless in a caterpillar-like manner on a circulating path U and is drivable by a drive device (33); at least two parallel guide paths (20), each of which includes one or more roller running surfaces (12a, 12b) and each of which extends over the entire circulating path U; wherein each roller element (4) includes a roller element body (34), which has a first end (35) and a second end (36) in the direction of circulation; each roller element (4) includes at least one roller (10) respectively in the area of the first end (35) and in the area of the second end (36); and the rollers (10) situated in the area of the first end (35) of roller element body (34) roll on roller running surfaces (12a, 12b) different from those of the rollers (10) situated in the area of the second end (36) of the roller element body (3

Abstract: A metallic glass part is provided. The metallic glass part includes an alloy core and a metallic glass shell surrounding the alloy core. The alloy core provides compressive force on the metallic glass shell at an interface between the alloy core and the metallic glass shell.

Abstract: Metal sheets (13) are produced from strand-shaped profiles (8) having a low thickness, made of magnesium or magnesium alloys by way of an extrusion system (1). The open or closed extruded profile (8) exiting the extrusion die (6-7) of an extrusion press (1) is shaped to obtain a flat metal sheet (13) and is then subjected to a defined shaping process by way of stretch-forming. The system for carrying out the method is essentially composed of an extrusion press (1) comprising a die plate generating the extruded profile and a shaping unit (5) following the die plate, wherein the shaping unit (5) is composed of a severing unit (2), a bending unit (3), and an unrolling unit (4).

Abstract: Zonal heating and cooling during the production of matrix drill bits may be achieved with a system that includes a cavity defined within a mold assembly having a central axis; reinforcing particles and a binder material disposed within the cavity; and a plurality of induction coils about a periphery of the mold assembly, each induction coil being spaced from each other along the height of the mold assembly, wherein a first induction coil of the plurality of induction coils is arranged proximal to a portion of mold assembly containing a portion of the reinforcing particles and a second induction coil of the plurality of induction coils is arranged proximal to a portion of the mold assembly containing a portion of the binder material.

Abstract: Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.

Abstract: A ladle bottom being part of a metallurgical ladle for treating a metal melt as well as a corresponding metallurgical ladle.

Abstract: A ladle bottom being part of a metallurgical ladle for treating a metal melt as well as a corresponding metallurgical ladle.

Abstract: Provided are an article and a method of forming an article. The method includes providing a metallic powder, heating the metallic powder to a temperature sufficient to joint at least a portion of the metallic powder to form an initial layer, sequentially forming additional layers in a build direction by providing a distributed layer of the metallic powder over the initial layer and heating the distributed layer of the metallic powder, repeating the steps of sequentially forming the additional layers in the build direction to form a portion of the article having a hollow space formed in the build direction, and forming an overhang feature extending into the hollow space. The article includes an article formed by the method described herein.

Abstract: A Cu-based sintered sliding member that can be used under high-load conditions. The sliding member is age-hardened, including 5 to 30 mass % Ni, 5 to 20 mass % Sn, 0.1 to 1.2 mass % P, and the rest including Cu and unavoidable impurities. In the sliding member, an alloy phase containing higher concentrations of Ni, P and Sn than their average concentrations in the whole part of the sliding member, is allowed to be present in a grain boundary of a metallic texture, thereby achieving excellent wear resistance. Hence, without needing expensive hard particles, there can be obtained, at low cost, a Cu-based sintered sliding member usable under high-load conditions. Even more excellent wear resistance is achieved by containing 0.3 to 10 mass % of at least one solid lubricant selected from among graphite, graphite fluoride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, boron nitride, calcium fluoride, talc and magnesium silicate mineral powders.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for creating uniformly sized, spherical nanoparticles from a solid target. The solid target surface is ablated to create an ejecta event containing nanoparticles moving away from the surface. Ablation may be caused by laser or electrostatic discharge. At least one electromagnetic field is placed in front of the solid target surface being ablated. The electromagnetic field manipulates at least a portion of the nanoparticles as they move away from the target surface through the electromagnetic field to increase size and spherical shape uniformity of the nanoparticles. The manipulated nanoparticles are collected.

Abstract: A tail stock moving mechanism, in which a tail stock that holds a work with a predetermined pressure force is moved by a ball screw and in which control required for holding the work with the predetermined pressure force is implemented, is accomplished in a predetermined order wherein, the tall stock 1 holds a position of the work 5 and is supported by a ball screw 2, torque generated by a drive motor 3 that drives the ball screw 2 is detected, and when the torque reaches a predetermined reference value, then operation of a brake 4 to limit rotation of the ball screw 2 and cutting off of an input from a power supply to the drive motor 3 are performed.

Abstract: A cutting insert of one embodiment is provided with: an insert body having a top surface that has a corner section, a bottom surface, and side surfaces; a cutting edge that is positioned at an intersection between the top surface and the side surfaces, and includes a corner cutting edge, a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge; a rake face that slopes downward away from the cutting edge; and a first raised part that is positioned inside the rake face, and rises upward. The first raised part includes a protruding section that protrudes toward the corner cutting edge. The cutting insert is further provided with a second raised part that extends toward the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge from the protruding section, and has a convex curved shape in which, when viewed from above, the outer peripheral edge on the corner section side.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a cutting tool including the steps of: providing a cutting tool blank including a cutting edge, defined by a cross-sectional wedge angle (?). The wedge angle has a variation along the cutting edge, and material is removed from the cutting edge with a constant material removal rate per length unit of the edge, such as to form a corresponding variation of edge rounding along the cutting edge. The disclosure further relates to a cutting tool including the cutting edge defined by the cross-sectional wedge angle having a variation along the cutting edge and wherein the cutting edge has a corresponding variation of edge rounding along the cutting edge.

Abstract: A coated cutting tool includes a substrate with a rake side, a clearance side and a cutting edge, and a coating including a first layer and a second layer. The second layer includes an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the first layer is exposed through an opening in the inner layer and the opening extends over at least a portion of the width of the cutting edge. Thereby, a double layer is provided in critical areas, whereas a single layer is provided in other areas. Preferably, the double oxide layer includes aluminum oxide layers. A method for manufacturing the coated cutting tool is also provided.

Abstract: A surface-coated cutting tool includes a base material and a coating formed on the base material. The coating includes an ?-Al2O3 layer containing a plurality of ?-Al2O3 crystal grains. The ?-Al2O3 layer includes: a first region made up of an edge ridgeline, a region A of a rake face, and a region B of a flank face; a second region which is a region of the rake face except for the region A and covered with the coating; and a third region which is a region of the flank face except for the region B. The ?-Al2O3 layer satisfies a relation b?a>0.5, where a is an average value of a TC(006) in the first region in texture coefficient TC(hkl) and b is an average value of the TC(006) in the second region or the third region in texture coefficient TC(hkl).

Abstract: A boring head (10) having a movement transmission mechanism for selectively moving a cutting insert (20) a desired amount. The movement transmission mechanism includes a rotatable member selectively radially displacing the cutting insert the desired amount in a first direction and a primary member selectively radially displacing a balancing mass (50) in a second direction opposite the first direction while also axially displacing the balancing mass. The displacement of the balancing mass in the second direction effectively counters the displacement of the cutting insert in the first direction such that rotational balance of the boring head is automatically maintained.

Abstract: In an ultrasound-assisted method, in each of at least two sonotrode arms (8, 9) of a sonotrode (7) that is fixed in a protruding manner, said sonotrode arms being connected to each other by means of a respective joint (10) in each case, a respective ultrasonic wave that is transverse to the protrusion direction and that oscillates in a resonance mode is produced, wherein ultrasonic waves superposed in the at least one joint (10) and oscillating in the sonotrode arms (8, 9) of the joint (10) oscillate at a phase offset from each other, and the oscillation planes of the superposed ultrasonic waves are parallel to each other.

Abstract: Collet chucks are described herein having design and architecture for minimizing and/or mitigating collet misalignment during rotary tool coupling operations. For example, a collet chuck comprises a housing for connection and rotation with a spindle about an axis of rotation, wherein the housing defines a socket for receiving a collet. The collet comprises a nose end engaging the socket and a second tapered end engaging a locknut assembly.

Abstract: A cutting tool for face milling includes insert pockets for the fixing of cutting insert. The cutting inserts can be fixed in the insert pockets, wherein the cutting inserts and insert pockets are designed such that, when the cutting inserts are fixed within the corresponding insert pocket, each cutting insert presents: a primary and a secondary cutting edge. The intersection between the primary and the secondary cutting edge of one cutting insert being axially inwardly and radially outwardly offset from the intersection between the primary and the secondary cutting edge of another cutting insert. A lead angle defined between the primary and the secondary cutting edges is less than 30°.

Abstract: The invention concerns a machining tool for machining fiber-reinforced materials such as CFRP, glass-fiber-reinforced plastics or plastics reinforced with polyester threads. The machining tool comprises a plurality of flutes (1, 2, 3, 4) which distance lands (5, 6, 7, 8), disposed about a cylinder core segment (9), from each other in the peripheral sense. At least one of the lands (6, 8) is designed as a premachining land (6, 8) and at least one other of the lands (5, 7) is designed as a postmachining land (5, 7), each comprising a peripheral working region extending along, or with a twist and in the form of a helical segment about, the tool axis.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool includes a rotary tool body, a blade clamp, a cutting insert, a clamp fastener, and an insert fastener, wherein the rotary tool body has an insert pocket to define a bottom positioning face, a first lateral positioning face and a second lateral positioning face. The cutting insert is affixed to the blade clamp via the insert fastener. The first lateral positioning face is orientated opposite to a side cutting edge of the cutting insert. The blade clamp is slid into the insert pocket in an axial direction of the rotary tool body, wherein the blade clamp is coupled by the first and second lateral positioning faces in an interference clamping manner and is retained at the rotary tool body by the clamp fastener. The present invention has the advantages of strong radial impact resistance, high positioning accuracy, high safety concern and long service life.

Abstract: A hand tool with a mechanical linear drive mechanism coupled to a linear activated working implement. The drive mechanism includes a geared planetary roller screw that includes a torque tube connected to a roller screw's nut body. The planetary roller screw includes a fixed outer race, a rotating set of grooved rollers axially aligned inside the outer race, a cylindrical nut body located inside the set of grooved roller, a plurality of inner rollers axially aligned and inside the nut body, a threaded shaft axially aligned and inside the inner rollers, and a torque tube axially aligned inside the inner rollers. The torque tube is connected at one end to a gear box which is coupled to an electric motor. When the electric motor is activated, the torque tube is rotated which causes a threaded shaft in the tool to move axially. A working implement is coupled to the distal end of the threaded shaft.

Abstract: A kit is disclosed for cutting differing sized pipes internally. The kit includes a pipe cutting apparatus, and a plurality of assemblies. The pipe cutting apparatus includes at least one drive member. The plurality of assemblies, attachable to the pipe cutting apparatus, each include: (1) at least one feed member to extend at least one cutting member against a pipe internally and to retract the at least one cutting member from the pipe internally, the at least one drive member to rotate the at least one cutting member against the pipe internally; or (2) at least one clamping member to secure the pipe cutting apparatus to the pipe internally. Each of the plurality of assemblies differ in size so that differing sized pipes can be cut internally by the pipe cutting apparatus by attaching the appropriately sized assembly to the pipe cutting apparatus.

Abstract: A plurality of cutting edges that are arranged on an outer circumference of a shaft-shaped broach body are provided with a spline teeth group, which contains a plurality of spline teeth 8 that groove a prepared hole of a work material, and a round teeth group, which is disposed in a different position from the spline teeth group along an axis direction and contains a plurality of round teeth that machine an inner circumference of the prepared hole. At least one gullet is formed to extend along the outer circumference of the broach body in a circumferential direction around the axis between the round teeth that are adjacent to one another in the axis direction in the round teeth group. The gullet extends toward the axis direction, gradually twisting toward the circumferential direction. The spline teeth group and the round teeth group are formed integrally on the outer circumference of the broach body.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a drop arm assembly movable along a drop path between a first drop arm assembly position whereat a portion of a shaping device supported by the drop arm assembly extends above a workpiece support surface and a second drop arm assembly position whereat the portion of the shaping device does not extend above the workpiece support surface, an actuator housing configured to house a first actuating device at an active location at which a force from the first actuating device is transferred to the drop arm assembly, the actuator housing including a slit configured to position a second actuating device at an inactive location, and a control system configured such that when the first actuating device is housed, the control system controls the first actuating device to transfer the force to the drop arm assembly when an unsafe condition is sensed.

Abstract: An electrical discharge machining (EDM) system according to embodiments includes: a guide structure; a plurality of electrode devices positioned at least partially within the guide structure, the plurality of electrode devices aligned to provide a plurality of electrical discharges to a workpiece, each of the plurality of electrode devices including: an electrode for positioning proximate the workpiece; an electrode holder coupled to the electrode for holding the electrode proximate the workpiece; and a driver coupled to the electrode holder, the driver adapted to modify a position of the electrode holder and the electrode; and a control system operably connected with the driver, the control system configured to provide instructions to the driver of at least one of the plurality of electrode devices to modify a position of the at least one of the plurality of electrodes independently of at least one other one of the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: There is provided a wire electrical discharge machine that includes a temperature detection unit, an actual position correction amount calculation unit, a correction amount calculation unit, a correction amount adjustment unit, a position correction amount adjustment unit, and a corrective movement amount calculation unit. The actual position correction amount calculation unit calculates an actual position correction amount for an upper/lower guide section in accordance with reference position coordinates at a reference temperature and with actual position coordinates at a temperature different from the reference temperature. The correction amount calculation unit uses a prepared correction amount arithmetic expression. The correction amount adjustment unit calculates a correction amount adjustment value from the actual position correction amount and the position correction amount.

Abstract: An electric discharge machining method for machining a core pin for a resin die using an electric discharge machine including a secondary electrode for molding of a round-bar shaped machining electrode. The electric discharge machining method includes a step of executing generating electric discharge machining for cutting out a schematic shape of the core pin from a work with the machining electrode, a step of transferring a shape element of the secondary electrode to the machining electrode and molding the machining electrode for diesinking electric discharge machining, and a step of applying the diesinking electric discharge machining to the work cut out in the schematic shape of the core pin using the machining electrode molded for the diesinking electric discharge machining.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve machining speed by realizing both conductive properties and discharge performance with regard to an electrode wire for wire electric discharge machining, the electrode wire being obtained by plating a steel wire with a copper-zinc alloy. Another object is to suppress the occurrence of separation, cracking, and the like of plating in a wire-drawing step of an electrode wire. An electrode wire for wire electric discharge machining of the present invention includes a steel wire (11) serving as a core wire, and a plating layer (12) that covers the steel wire and that is composed of a copper-zinc alloy, in which an average zinc concentration of the plating layer is 60% to 75% by mass, a conductivity of the plating layer is 10% to 20% IACS, and a wire diameter is 30 to 200 ?m.

Abstract: A composite wear pad includes a substrate that is selected from the group of iron based alloys, steel, nickel based alloys, and cobalt based alloys. A hard particle-matrix alloy layer is bonded at a surface to the substrate. The hard particle-matrix alloy layer has a plurality of hard particles dispersed in a matrix alloy. The hard particle-matrix alloy layer has a thickness ranging between greater than about 13 millimeters and about 20 millimeters.

Abstract: A hybrid diffusion-brazing process and hybrid diffusion-brazed article are disclosed. The hybrid diffusion-brazing process includes providing a component having a temperature-tolerant region and a temperature-sensitive region, brazing a braze material to the temperature-tolerant region during a localized brazing cycle, then heating the component in a furnace during a diffusion cycle. The brazing and the heating diffusion-braze the braze material to the component, and the localized brazing cycle is performed independent of the diffusion cycle in the hybrid diffusion-brazing process. The hybrid diffusion-brazed article includes a component, and a braze material diffusion-brazed to the component with a filler material. The filler material has a melting temperature that is above a tolerance temperature of the component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blend of at least one boron source and at least one silicon source, wherein the blend comprises boron and silicon in a weight ratio boron to silicon within a range from about 5:100 to about 2:1, wherein silicon and boron are present in the blend in at least 25 wt %, and wherein the at least one boron source and the at least one silicon source are oxygen free except for inevitable amounts of contaminating oxygen, and wherein the blend is a mechanical blend of powders, and wherein particles in the powders have an average particle size less than 250 ?m. The present invention relates further to a composition comprising the blend a substrate applied with the blend, a method for providing a brazed product, and uses.

Abstract: Provided is a jet nozzle that varies a width of a flow of jetted molten solder. The jet nozzle contains a nozzle main body having a channel section at its part and a molten solder flow width varying member that varies a width of the upper opening end of the nozzle main body by a slide of the molten solder flow width varying member within the channel section of the nozzle main body to vary a width of the molten solder flow jetted from the upper opening end of the nozzle main body. The molten solder flow width varying member includes a molten solder flow width varying plate that varies the width of the molten solder flow, a rectangular rectifying piece that extends along a slide direction of the molten solder flow width varying member, and a sliding shaft that slides the rectifying piece.

Abstract: A system for performing exothermic operations or oxygen delivery uses a rod and handle configuration to create a flowpath of oxygen. The rod includes cables having stainless steel fibers that burn using the oxygen within a hollow center area. While burning, the rod cuts through material. A sheath covers the covers to contain the gases and prevent unraveling of the cables. The handle attaches to the rod and provides control of the flow of oxygen to the rod. A manifold fixing in place bottles of oxygen connects to the handle and can be fixed to provide different mixtures from different bottles. The rod is disconnected when needed to fix a mask thereto for delivering breathable oxygen to a patient.

Abstract: A method for purging air from a structure to be joined by welding by feeding a liquid cryogen to the structure. The liquid cryogen will enter the structure, warm up and enter the gaseous phase very rapidly. The gaseous cryogen will displace the air that is present in the structure out of the structure and reduce the content of oxygen in the structure to about 10 parts per million when welding can begin.

Abstract: A method for watertight welding, and components formed using that welding method, wherein the welding method includes providing a first component half with a groove and a protruding ridge located therein, providing a second component half with a tenon shaped to match the profile of the groove, disposing the tenon inside the groove such that the tenon contacts the protruding ridge, applying an ultrasonic power source near the groove to melt the protruding ridge, and applying opposing vertical force to the first component half relative to the second component half, such that the protruding ridge wedges in a bonding seam between an outside surface of the tenon and an inside surface of the groove.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bonded article having long bonding length and high strength. A first bonding target member and a second bonding target member having a hole portion for receiving the first member are provided. Pressing force is applied between the two members with the first member received in the hole portion, and a current is applied to a bonding target portion between the two members with the pressing force applied. The two members are of materials with different melting points. One of the two members, having lower melting point, has a heat capacity increasing portion in the vicinity of the target portion. The one of the members has a taper face at the target portion, and the heat capacity increasing portion has a face extending from the taper face. The force applying step is performed with the other member positioned not to contact the heat capacity increasing portion.

Abstract: A spot welding apparatus includes a stationary frame having a housing formed therein. An upper welding gun is mounted to a length direction of a pressing unit disposed in the housing of the stationary frame. A plurality of lower welding guns are mounted on an outside of the stationary frame and ends of the plurality of lower welding guns selectively face one end of the upper welding gun in a length direction of the lower welding guns by the plurality of lower welding guns. A plurality of actuators are mounted on the outside of the stationary frame. A plurality of link units are disposed between the actuators and the lower welding guns, connect the actuators and the lower welding guns, respectively, and rotate as the actuators are operated.

Abstract: Provided is a method and tool for butt welding a first material piece of metal to a second material piece of metal at opposed longitudinal edges. The second material piece has a greater material thickness than the first material piece. The first material piece has a higher tensile strength and/or a higher inching temperature and/or a higher yield strength and/or a higher modulus of elasticity than the second material piece. A thickened longitudinal edge is provided at the first material piece. The thickening of the longitudinal edge is at least partly produced by at least simple folding, beading or winding of the first material piece or at least partly by folding the first material piece at its edge. The two material pieces are friction-stir welded at their front along the opposed longitudinal edges.

Abstract: In a method for preparing a workpiece for subsequent laser welding, a recessed structure in the form of at least two grooved line elements is formed by a laser beam in a surface of the workplace, with the line elements having a common starting point from which the laser beam moves onwards to produce the line elements. Solidifying material melt of the workpiece is hereby accumulated in an area of the starting point to produce a nub-like elevation sized to extend out beyond the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a processing chamber (100) defining a window (110) for receiving a laser beam and an optical module (10) The optical module is removably-mountable to the processing chamber for delivering the laser beam through the window. The optical module contains optical components for focusing and steering the laser beam and a controlled atmosphere can be maintained within the module.

Abstract: A laser processing program creation device sets an evaluation region in an adjacent plane to a target plane; calculates the position of the extremity of the product profile in the axial direction within the evaluation region; sets a first line segment passing through the position of the extremity and extending orthogonally to the axis in the target plane; locates a processing area in the range surrounded by the first line segment, a second line segment, and the product profile, the second line segment extending in the axial direction from an end of the first line segment to the product profile; allocates a trajectory for laser beam cutting to form a notch or a hole in the processing area; and allocates a trajectory for laser beam cutting to cut the material along the product profile.