Abstract: A method of removing flash from a gauge portion of a monolithic precursor test coupon using a flash-removal tool is provided. The flash-removal tool comprises a tool body, extending along a longitudinal tool axis, a tooth, and an engagement surface, spaced apart from the tooth along the longitudinal tool axis. The tooth projects from the tool body in a first direction and comprises a shearing surface, facing in the first direction and located an offset distance away from the longitudinal tool axis in a second direction. The method comprises steps of coupling the engagement surface of the flash-removal tool against a first precursor-coupon end of the monolithic precursor test coupon, orienting the longitudinal tool axis parallel to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the monolithic precursor test coupon, wherein the shearing surface registers longitudinally with the flash, and shearing, using the shearing surface, the flash from the gauge portion.

Abstract: A threading tool, such as a tap or die holder, is configured to be driven by a generic wrench. The tool is provided with a wrench-engageable surface, such as a faceted cylindrical surface, or a cylinder with a polyhedral cross-section perpendicular to its axis. A outwardly extending peripheral flange, downward from the wrench-engageable surface, contacts and allows an open-backed wrench to exert downward force on the tool. A inwardly extending peripheral groove, downward from the wrench-engageable surface, allows a wrench to insert a holding device into the profile of the tool to hold the wrench and tool together. The holder may have a collet that activates the holding function by moving along the axis of the holder, but the collet is prevented from rotating about the axis of the holder. The collet may have a wrench-engageable surface. A collar, threaded to the holder, moves the collet.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provides an approach for repairing defects in a structure, located in difficult to reach area, by using a self-guiding and self-melting robotic thread. The approach can use an external guidance system to find the target location of the structure and deploy a robotic thread to the defective area. Portion of the robotic thread contains a filler material can have similar materials to the structure. After the system has determined the size, length and volume of the repair, the system calculates the required length of the robotic thread and guides the thread to the defective area. Once the robotic thread is in place, the filler material begins to melt via heat. The filler material, in a melted and pliable state, can flow into the defect area. Once cooled, the filler material can now support the structure.

Abstract: A plate heat exchanger has two metal plates brought into abutment, with a solder material between the plates. The plates are heated up to a first temperature. The plates are placed into a mold, the mold surfaces of which have cavities for envisaged channel structures. Channel structures are formed by local internal pressure forming of at least one plate under pressurization by the tool. The plates are heated up to a second temperature. The plates are solder bonded at the abuted surfaces. A plate heat exchanger has two metal plates, wherein channel structures have been formed in at least one plate and the plates are bonded to one another by soldering away from the channel structures. Eutectic microstructures having a longest extent of less than 50 micrometers are formed in the solder layer.

Abstract: A system and method provide gasless, mechanized, field welding of an exterior of a tubular structure such as a pipeline, without the need for an enclosure. An embodiment consolidates some of the welding equipment on a skid for ease of transport to and from a remote worksite. The gasless weld may be achieved despite the presence of wind, by precisely controlling an arc voltage as disclosed. The footprint and weight of the system may be minimized, along with the associated labor, expense, and environmental impact otherwise incurred by conventional welding techniques using enclosures.

Abstract: A pulse arc welding profile control method, a control device, a welding system, a welding program, and a welding power supply are provided in which, even when a pulse arc welding method is used, protruding change information is extractable at high accuracy without influence from a welding current or an arc voltage having a pulse shape. An electric change amount detected at the time of weaving includes, as a parameter, at least one among a welding current detection signal and an arc voltage detection signal, takes a predetermined period as one period, calculates an average value of the electric change amount in each one period, and extracts, on the basis of the average value, the protruding change information in a groove to follow a welding line.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an object tracking device in a welding process tracks and outputs a predetermined object in a welding image. The object tracking device comprises a camera device capturing the welding image including a base material and a welding torch for welding the base material, a controller receiving a plurality of camera control parameter-varied images from the camera device, identifying the predetermined object in the received images, and generating an object tracking image, the plurality of camera control parameter-varied images having varied camera control parameters of the camera device, and an output device outputting the welding image captured by the camera device, the plurality of images received by the controller, or the object tracking image generated by the controller.

Abstract: A system and method provide gasless, mechanized, field welding of an exterior of a tubular structure such as a pipeline, without the need for an enclosure. An embodiment consolidates some of the welding equipment on a skid for ease of transport to and from a remote worksite. The gasless weld may be achieved despite the presence of wind, by precisely controlling an arc voltage as disclosed. The footprint and weight of the system may be minimized, along with the associated labor, expense, and environmental impact otherwise incurred by conventional welding techniques using enclosures.

Abstract: A hybrid electrode for resistance spot welding and a method of resistance welding are provided. The hybrid electrode comprises a pin and a collar member. The pin comprises an electrically conductive material and a pin contact surface. The collar member comprises a material that is at least one of less electrically conductive than the electrically conductive material of the pin and less thermally conductive than the electrically conductive material of the pin. The collar member comprises a collar member contact surface, and defines an inner cavity and a longitudinal axis. The pin is at least partially disposed in the inner cavity and the pin contact surface extends away from the collar member and is offset a distance along the longitudinal axis from the collar member contact surface.

Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding that enables an improvement of a weld strength of steel plates having different plate thicknesses while inhibiting generation of spatters is provided. One aspect of the present disclosure is the method of resistance spot welding, the method including welding a workpiece made of layered steel plates with a resistance spot welding apparatus. The resistance spot welding apparatus includes a first electrode configured to contact a first steel plate among the steel plates, and a second electrode configured to contact, among the steel plates, a second steel plate that is thinner than the first steel plate, and the second electrode being arranged such that the workpiece is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The welding includes welding while moving the second electrode relative to the first electrode in a direction parallel with a plate surface of the second steel plate.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ultrasonic welding installation comprising an ultrasonic vibration unit having a sonotrode and a converter, wherein the sonotrode and the converter are arranged in mutually adjacent relationship along a longitudinal axis and the ultrasonic vibration unit can be caused to resonate with an ultrasonic vibration in the direction of the longitudinal axis with a wavelength ?/2, wherein there is provided a holder for holding the ultrasonic vibration unit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic welder includes, among other things, a sonotrode, a sleeve that is arranged at least partially around the sonotrode, and a biasing assembly that acts on the sleeve and is configured to urge the sleeve to an extended position relative to the sonotrode in response to a biasing force. The sleeve is configured to move from the extended position to a clamping position relative to the sonotrode in response to engagement with a workpiece which opposes the biasing force.

Abstract: Provided is a laser device. The laser device according to an embodiment comprises a laser source that provides a laser beam to a process object, a laser deflector that deflects the laser beam supplied from the laser source, an object lens that focuses scattered light of the laser beam that has been incident on the process object and then scattered, an image capture device that captures an image of the scattered light focused in the object lens, and a corrector that corrects a position of the laser beam by using the captured image.

Abstract: A welding method includes: placing a workpiece including aluminum in a region to which laser light is emitted; and irradiating the laser light to the workpiece to melt an irradiated portion of the work piece to perform welding. Further, the laser light is formed of a main beam and plural auxiliary beams, and the plural auxiliary beams are positioned so as to surround a periphery of the main beam.

Abstract: An optical device includes: a first connector for a first optical fiber that transmits a first laser beam from a first laser source; a second connector for a second optical fiber that transmits a second laser beam from a second laser source; and one or more optical elements that direct the first laser beam from the first connector to a first beam collimator and direct the second laser beam from the second connector to the first beam collimator, wherein, the first beam collimator: produces a first collimated beam based on the first laser beam, directs the first collimated beam to a laser-scanning device, produces a second collimated beam based on the second laser beam, and directs the second collimated beam to the laser-scanning device.

Abstract: A beam-forming and deflecting optical system for a laser machining device includes at least two optical elements, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the laser beam and which are formed by wedges with respective wedge angles, wherein at least one optical element is connected to a drive for the rotation of the optical element about the optical axis, whereby an optical wedge can be rotated relative to the at least one other optical wedge. Also a method for machining a workpiece uses a collimated laser beam. In order to achieve different shapes of the laser beam on the workpiece, each of the optical wedges, which are arranged one behind the other, in each case cover only a part of the laser beam.

Abstract: A method for heat treatment of an object of sheet metal, includes the step of heating at least one selected portion of the object using an energy beam. The beam is projected onto a surface of the object so as to produce a primary spot on the object, the beam being repetitively scanned in two dimensions in accordance with a scanning pattern so as to establish an effective spot on the object, the effective spot having a two-dimensional energy distribution. The effective spot is displaced in relation to the surface of the object to progressively heat the at least one selected portion of the object. The scanning pattern includes interconnected curved segments.

Abstract: A laser engraving machine with a three-point suspension system and an inverted X-Y axis support system wherein the X-axis beam is to and mounted below the Y-axis beams and the Y-axis beams are mounted inwardly of the outer ends of the X-axis beam and are structurally integrated with the machine housing. In addition, a counterweight in the form of a second, independently activatable laser is added to the drive belt to reduce or eliminate vibration during rapid reciprocal movement of the tool during an engraving process.

Abstract: A horn includes a plurality of protrusion formation parts, each of which has a plurality of protrusions that protrude from a welding surface and are arranged in a line in at least one row, the plurality of protrusion formation parts respectively configured to form pattern formation parts on an outermost electrode tab of electrode tabs of a secondary battery, and a protrusion-free part which is disposed between two protrusion formation parts of the plurality of protrusion formation parts and in which protrusions are not provided to expose the welding surface to an outside, the protrusion-free part configured to form a pattern-free part on the outermost electrode tab. The protrusion-free part has a width greater than a width of each of the protrusions.

Abstract: Laser welding device (1000) includes: laser oscillator (100); optical fiber (300) that transmits a laser beam (LB) generated in laser oscillator (100); laser beam emitting head (400) that is attached to the emission end of optical fiber (300) and emits laser beam (LB) toward workpiece (600); manipulator (500) with laser beam emitting head (400) attached thereto; and controller (200) that controls laser beam emitting head (400) so as to cause laser beam (LB) to be scanned three-dimensionally on the surface of workpiece (600). Controller (200) controls laser beam emitting head (400) so as to change a focal position of laser beam (LB) in accordance with a shape of a welded portion in workpiece (600).

Abstract: An electronic component includes a housing and a cover. The housing includes a concave portion accommodating therein elements. The cover covers the concave portion. A laser-welded portion including a discontinuous portion is provided along a circumference of the concave portion of the housing and fixes the cover to the housing.

Abstract: A housing includes a concave portion in which components are to be accommodated. A cover covers the concave portion. A first laser-welded portion is provided along a circumference of the concave portion of the housing and fixes the cover to the housing. The cover includes an opening positioned inside of the first laser-welded portion and corresponding to a part of the circumference of the concave portion of the housing.

Abstract: A shielding gas nozzle for metal forming includes a wire feed line being a path to feed a wire at an inclination angle ?, a first gas ejection hole to jet a shielding gas at an angle equal to or less than the inclination angle ?, and a second gas ejection hole to jet the shielding gas in a direction different from that of the first gas ejection hole. The first gas ejection hole jets the shielding gas toward an intersection along a direction in which the absolute value of the angle to the wire feed direction is less than 90 degrees, and the second gas ejection hole jets the shielding gas toward the intersection along a direction in which the absolute value of the angle to the wire feed direction when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the base material surface is greater than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A sheet processing method including irradiating a transparent conductive layer covered with a transparent sheet with a pulsed laser beam such that the pulsed laser beam is applied to a portion of the transparent conductive layer through the transparent sheet, and that the portion irradiated has an insulating property. The pulsed laser beam has a top-hat intensity distribution and has a transmittance through the transparent sheet being higher than a transmittance through the transparent conductive layer.

Abstract: A method for uniformly irradiating a frame of a processed substrate, the processed substrate including a plurality of frames, two consecutive frames being separated by an intermediate zone, the method includes steps of: determining an initial position of the processed substrate using a detecting unit; comparing the detected initial position with a first predetermined position associated with a first frame of the processed substrate; irradiating the first frame of the processed substrate by an irradiation beam emitted by a source unit and scanned by a scanning unit based on the first predetermined position, the irradiation beam being adapted to cover uniformly the whole first frame. A system for uniformly irradiating a frame of a processed substrate is also described.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a deposition mask having a plurality of openings arranged in a matrix pattern in an active region formation portion of a mask base, which is fixed to a frame while being tensioned, the method including: a step A of preparing a mask base of an initial state fixed to a frame while being tensioned in a predetermined condition so as to define an xy plane; a step B of preparing target coordinate data that identifies a position of each of the plurality of openings in the xy plane; a step C of predicting, for each of the plurality of openings, an amount of displacement from the target coordinate data caused by the formation of the openings to generate such correction data that reduces the amount of displacement; and a step D of forming each of the plurality of openings at a position that is identified based on the target coordinate data and the correction data, wherein: in the step C, the correction data for each of the plurality of openings is associated with an order in which the plurali

Abstract: A system for removing a heat check feature on an aluminum casting formed by a high pressure die casting process is provided. The system includes a laser source, a robotic arm, and a heat check sensor. The heat check sensor develops a surface profile of at least part of the casting and transmits heat check feature information to the laser source to project the beam of laser light thereon. The projection of the beam of laser light can be varied in time and power, which can depend on surface profile information obtained from the sensor. Once at least a portion of the heat check feature is removed, the casting is placed against another part such that the joint interface is primarily the portion where the heat checking has been removed. Self-piercing rivets are then driven into the casting and the part to permanently join them together.

Abstract: A wafer manufacturing method includes a Z-coordinate measurement step of deeming a separation layer to be formed as an XY plane and measuring a height Z(X, Y) of an upper surface of an ingot to be irradiated with a laser beam, corresponding to the X-coordinate and the Y-coordinate, and a calculation step of defining a Z-coordinate of the separation layer to be formed as Z0 and calculating a difference from the measured height Z(X, Y) (Z(X, Y)-Z0) to obtain a Z-coordinate of a beam condenser. A separation layer is formed by relatively moving the beam condenser in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction. The beam condenser is moved in a Z-axis direction on the basis of the Z-coordinate obtained in the calculation step to position a focal point to Z0, and the separation layer is formed. A wafer is separated from the ingot.

Abstract: With providing a workpiece that has a seed-crystal zone for microcrystalline silicon at a location proximate to the periphery of and aligned with one of transformation-scheduled regions, each of which is set to coextend with that portion of amorphous silicon which extends over one of gate fins, in a lateral straight line perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the gate fins, a lateral crystal forming process carries out selective crystal growth by moving a continuous wave laser beam along the lateral straight line with the seed-crystal zone as a starting point to irradiate the amorphous silicon to grow crystalline silicon within the transformation-scheduled region.

Abstract: A method for detecting welding defects of workpieces includes obtaining a first image from an image capturing element; extracting welding information from the first image; transmitting the welding information to a logic processing element to obtain welding defects; the logic processing element formed by evolution of self-learning of historical welding information; and generating display information of the welding defects and displaying visual form and/or characteristics values of the welding defects. An apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium for detecting welding defects of workpieces are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a first layer having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer overlaying the first layer having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. A first difference between the first coefficient of thermal expansion and a coefficient of thermal expansion of glass is greater than a second difference between the second coefficient of thermal expansion and the coefficient of thermal expansion of glass. The electrical connector further includes a layer of a solder alloy having about 15% to 28% indium by weight, about 5% to 20% zinc by weight, about 1% to 6% silver by weight, and at least 36% tin by weight. The solder layer is disposed on at least a portion of the second layer.

Abstract: Provided are a solder alloy which has excellent temperature cycle characteristics and in which yellowish discoloration is suppressed, excellent wettability is maintained, and an increase in viscosity of a solder paste over time can be suppressed, and a solder paste, a solder ball, and a solder joint in which the solder alloy is used. The solder alloy consists of, by mass %, 1.0% to 5.0% of Ag, 0.5% to 3.0% of Cu, 0.5% to 7.0% of Sb, 0.0040% to 0.025% of As, and a balance of Sn.

Abstract: A solder alloy is provided which suppresses the change in a solder paste over time, decreases the temperature difference between the liquidus-line temperature and the solidus temperature, and exhibits a high reliability. The solder alloy has an alloy constitution composed of: 10 ppm by mass or more and less than 25 ppm by mass of As; at least one selected from the group consisting of 0 ppm by mass to 10000 ppm by mass of Bi and 0 ppm by mass to 5100 ppm by mass of Pb; more than 0 ppm by mass and no more than 3000 ppm by mass of Sb; and a remaining amount of Sn; and satisfies both the formula (1) and the formula (2). 300?3As+Sb+Bi+Pb??(1) 0.1?{(3As+Sb)/(Bi+Pb)}×100?200??(2) In the formula (1) and the formula (2), As, Sb, Bi, and Pb each represents an amount thereof (ppm by mass) in the alloy constitution.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an Sn—Bi—Cu—Ni solder alloy or the like which has a low melting point, excellent ductility, and high tensile strength, and in which if soldering is performed on a Cu electrode subjected to electroless Ni plating treatment, a solder joint formed through this soldering exhibits high shear strength. In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an Sn—Bi—Cu—Ni solder alloy in which a solder joint formed through soldering exhibits high shear strength even for a Cu electrode which has not been subjected to plating treatment. Furthermore, still another object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the above-described objects, a solder alloy or the like of which yellowish discoloration can be suppressed and in which change in viscosity of a solder paste over time can be suppressed. The solder alloy has an alloy composition consisting of, by mass %, 31% to 59% of Bi, 0.3% to 1.0% of Cu, 0.01% to 0.06% of Ni, 0.0040% to 0.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to welding, and more particularly to consumable electrodes based on aluminum and methods of welding using the same. In one aspect, a consumable welding electrode comprises a base metal composition comprising at least 70% by weight of aluminum and a fluidity-enhancing metal capable of forming a binary eutectic with aluminum, wherein the binary eutectic undergoes a binary eutectic solidification at a eutectic temperature of 595-660° C. The fluidity-enhancing metal is present in form and a hypoeutectic concentration of 0.05-0.5 weight % such that a solidification temperature range of a molten weld metal formed by melting the consumable welding electrode is less than 65° C.

Abstract: A solder paste contains a flux and a metal powder, wherein the flux contains: 0.5% by mass to 20.0% by mass of a (carboxyalkyl)isocyanurate adduct; 5.0% by mass to 45.0% by mass of a rosin; and a solvent. The (carboxyalkyl)isocyanurate adduct is at least one selected from the group consisting of mono(carboxyalkyl)isocyanurate adducts, bis(carboxyalkyl)isocyanurate adducts and tris(carboxyalkyl)isocyanurate adducts.

Abstract: A method of controlling a welding cap cooling water controller having a cooling water pipe which includes a test section with a welding cap between an inlet valve in the cooling water inlet and a return valve in the cooling water return, in a first step the pressure of the cooling water in the test section is increased to an overpressure which is above a supply pressure that prevails in the test section during the welding process with the inlet valve open and the return valve open, and subsequently a pressure drop measurement is performed at overpressure. Furthermore, a welding cap cooling water controller is provided which is adapted to carry out such a method.

Abstract: A method for sensing the presence of a fastener in a feeder and fastening system for joining a fastener to a workpiece comprises a head with a receiving element for receiving the fastener, a joining drive element, a feeder for feeding fasteners from a magazine to the receiving element, a feeding tube adapted to receive fasteners from the magazine and through which the fasteners are driven to the receiving element by compressed air. The feeder further includes a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of compressed air flowing through the feeding tube and a microprocessor for processing and computing the pressure to detect the presence or passage of a fastener in the feeding tube.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a storage system for use with weight distribution trailer hitches are disclosed. The storage system would be used by someone with a towing vehicle, a boat or RV, and a trailer hitch to link these two. During the times these items are not in-motion, these weight distribution hitches have large parts and take up a lot of space. Such a customer can put their extra hitch-parts in the storage system, which keeps the weight distribution system nicely stored for example on the trailers beams AKA the trailer's A-frame rails or frame.

Abstract: An assembly station includes at least one build platform table configured to move about three orthogonal axes, at least one part placement robot configured to position and hold components on and above the at least one build platform table, and at least one fused filament fabrication robot with a printer head configured to fused filament weld at least two components together. The at least one build platform table is configured to rotate during assembly of a plurality of components such that the fused filament is extruded vertically from the printer head during fused filament welding of the at least two components together. Also the at least one part placement robot is configured to position and hold a first component a predetermined distance from a second component during fused filament welding of the first component to the second component.

Abstract: A control panel for a machine tool has a housing (1). The housing comprises a housing base part (2) and a housing front part (3). A display (19) and a control element panel (20, 21) are attached to the front part of the housing. In the region of the housing bottom side, the housing front part is connected to the housing base part by miter hinges so that it can be swiveled to provide access to the interior of the housing. Fold-out supports (13) make it possible to use an alphanumeric keyboard (15) for maintenance work. Indentations (5) on both sides of the housing rear allow the housing to be easily grasped. Control elements (18) are arranged in the indentations.

Abstract: A supporting device and method for a large thin-walled part is disclosed. The supporting device comprises a processing device and a supporting device. A workpiece is positioned between the processing device and the supporting device and is clamped at a periphery in a flexible clamping mode. A cutter in the processing device is connected with an iron core. A coil is wound on the iron core. When the coil is energized, a magnetic field is generated around the coil. A blade part of the cutter is in contact with a processing side of the workpiece. The supporting method combines the magnetorheological fluid technology with the jet supporting technology, and uses a jet impact force to offset part of a milling force. The current magnitude and winding mode of the coil are changed to control magnetic field intensity. The magnetorheological fluid is cured instantly to support the workpiece.

Abstract: A tool holder holding and loosening device of chain-type tool magazine of a machine tool is disclosed. A locking mechanism is disposed on a rear end of each of sockets in a tool magazine. The locking mechanism is adapted to abut against an end of a tool holder mounted in the socket, thereby to prevent the tool holder from accidentally loosing. A tool loosening device is disposed on a predetermined position of the chain-type tool magazine. The tool loosening device is adapted to unlock the locking mechanism of the tool magazine passing through the predetermined position, so that the tool holder could be easily taken out of the socket.

Abstract: A vibration damping device for a machine tool spindle is provided. An annular support plate is mounted at a lower portion of a distal end of the spindle, a plurality of support bars is fixed to the support plate in a vertical direction and installed in a longitudinal direction of the spindle adjacent to an outer periphery of the spindle, a pair of weight disks stacked by a plurality of arc-shaped disks made of a tuned mass member is fixed to be in close contact with the outer periphery of the spindle, facing each other, and a damping sheet made of an elastic member is inserted between the outer periphery of the spindle and the weight disks. The vibration damping device of the present invention may maximize a vibration damping effect by installing the vibration damping device at a position closest to the spindle where a vibration occurs.

Abstract: A functional unit, in particular for a tool, a tool accessory and/or a lighting apparatus, that includes a housing, a suction region, which is arranged on the housing and with which the fastening apparatus can be fastened releasably to a substrate, and an electrically operated negative-pressure unit, which is arranged in the housing and to provide a negative pressure in the suction region. The fastening apparatus also includes at least one fastening interface for fastening the functional unit. Alternatively, or additionally, the fastening apparatus includes the functional unit. The functional unit includes a guide device, in particular a guide rail, a router guide, a routing template, a rolling guide rail, a drilling apparatus, a lamp and/or a grazing light.

Abstract: In order to be able to take into account machining configurations more flexibly, a method for optimizing numerically controlled machining of a workpiece includes ascertaining geometric interaction data. A relationship between a force to be expected and a configuration parameter of the machining is determined on the basis of the interaction data. The force is calculated during the machining on the basis of the relationship and a current value of the at least one configuration parameter. The machining is adapted depending on the calculated force.

Abstract: A method in dry shake coating of a concrete floor, whereby an applied floor concrete mass is subjected to early after-care, in which connection, if necessary, after floating, on top of the floor concrete mass is applied a dry shake material for two or more superimposed dry shake layers, in which connection the surface of a currently underlying dry shake layer is troweled prior to the application of a next dry shake layer to be processed thereupon, whereafter the lastly processed dry shake layer of a concrete floor is troweled and the concrete floor is subjected to actual aftercare. The application of an underlying dry shake layer is followed by spreading over its surface a water soluble silica-based medium prior to and/or during the course of troweling this particular dry shake layer and prior to the application of an overlying dry shake layer to be spread thereupon.

Abstract: Apparatus configured to sharpen a blade of a cutting tool. In some embodiments, a sharpener is provided having a housing and a sharpening stage with at least one sharpening element. Each sharpening element is characterized as a plate and has a curvilinearly extending, concave sharpening surface configured to impart a corresponding convex sharpening geometry to a selected side of the blade during a sharpening operation in which a user retracts the blade along a longitudinal drawing axis through the sharpening stage. A pair of intersecting sharpening elements may be provided to form a substantially v-shaped groove for a ripper-type sharpening stage. The sharpening element(s) may be fixed or tiltable with respect to the housing. The sharpening element(s) may further be moveable in a lateral direction to narrow or widen the v-shaped groove and change the convex geometry and edge angle imparted to the blade.

Abstract: A device for removing a tread from a wheel (e.g., a closing wheel of a planter, a gauge wheel of a planter, a gauge wheel of a cultivator, a gauge wheel of seed drill etc.) includes a body configured to support the wheel, and a fastener coupled to the body. The fastener is configured to engage the wheel when the wheel is supported by the body, and position the wheel on the body, and then compress the wheel against the body to thereby allow removal of a tread from the wheel.

Abstract: An enclosure assembly includes a pan that includes at least one shaft opening. A shroud at least partially surrounds the pan. The shroud extends transversely relative to the pan. A skirt surrounds a perimeter of the shroud and is moveable relative to the shroud.