Abstract: This method of manufacturing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet includes, between a cold rolling process and a winding process, a groove formation process of irradiating the surface of a silicon steel sheet with a laser beam multiple times at predetermined intervals in a sheet passing direction, over an area from one end edge to the other end edge, in a sheet width direction of the silicon steel sheet, thereby forming a groove along a locus of the laser beam.

Abstract: A silicon steel sheet (1) containing Si is cold-rolled. Next, a decarburization annealing (3) of the silicon steel sheet (1) is performed so as to cause a primary recrystallization. Next, the silicon steel sheet (1) is coiled so as to obtain a steel sheet coil (31). Next, an annealing (6) of the steel sheet coil (31) is performed through batch processing so as to cause a secondary recrystallization. Next, the steel sheet coil (31) is uncoiled and flattened. Between the cold-rolling and the obtaining the steel sheet coil (31), a laser beam is irradiated a plurality of times at predetermined intervals on a surface of the silicon steel sheet (1) from one end to the other end of the silicon steel sheet (1) along a sheet width direction (2). When the secondary recrystallization is caused, grain boundaries passing from a front surface to a rear surface of the silicon steel sheet (1) along paths of the laser beams are generated.

Abstract: Methods of refining the grain size of a titanium alloy workpiece include beta annealing the workpiece, cooling the beta annealed workpiece to a temperature below the beta transus temperature of the titanium alloy, and high strain rate multi-axis forging the workpiece. High strain rate multi-axis forging is employed until a total strain of at least 1 is achieved in the titanium alloy workpiece, or until a total strain of at least 1 and up to 3.5 is achieved in the titanium alloy workpiece. The titanium alloy of the workpiece may comprise at least one of grain pinning alloying additions and beta stabilizing content effective to decrease alpha phase precipitation and growth kinetics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a swash plate type piston pump motor in which: a plurality of pistons are arranged in a circumferential direction on a cylinder block configured to rotate with a rotating shaft; the pistons are guided along a swash plate to reciprocate by rotation of the rotating shaft; a convex portion of the swash plate is slidably supported by a recess of a swash plate support; and a wall formed integrally with the swash plate support is arranged on a normal to at least a part of a supporting surface of the recess, wherein: the supporting surface of the recess is quenched by irradiating the supporting surface with laser light while causing the laser light to scan the supporting surface; and outputs of the laser light are changed in accordance with incidence angles of the laser light with respect to the supporting surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for fabricating refractory-metal articles (e.g., implantable medical devices), and honing and blasting apparatuses for use in such methods are disclosed. Methods for fabricating refractory-metal-containing articles include laser cutting in a vacuum environment and/or at least one mechanical or chemical finishing step configured to remove at least one region affected by the fabrication process (e.g., the laser cutting process) to provide a substantially defect-free surface finish.

Abstract: An object is to provide a method and an apparatus for improving a residual stress in a tubular body, which are enabled to improve the residual stress reliably by clearly defining controlling rage for treatment conditions without depending on an installation state and configuration of the tubular body. When an outer-circumferential surface of a welded portion of a cylindrical tubular body (2) is irradiated with a laser beam that circles around an outer circumference of the tubular body (2), a heating width W in a circumferential direction heated by the laser-beam irradiation and a laser-beam moving speed V in the circumferential direction are set so that a stress in the circumferential direction in an inner surface of the tubular body (2) produced by the heating with the laser beam is at least larger than a yielding stress of a material that the tubular body (2) is made of.

Abstract: Aims are to provide a tubular-body residual-stress improving apparatus and an adjustment method thereof capable of adjusting irradiation position with favorable reproducibility, even when an optical fiber is eccentric. In the tubular-body residual-stress improving apparatus, an optical control unit (5) includes a rotational hold mechanism (9) for holding an optical fiber (6) in a manner that the optical fiber (6) is rotatable in a circumferential direction of the optical fiber (6), and, if a position of an intensity peak of the laser beam from the optical fiber (6) in an axial direction of the tubular body (2) is offset from the center of an irradiation profile, a position at which the optical fiber (6) is held in the circumferential direction is adjusted by the rotational hold mechanism (9) so as to eliminate the offset or to minimize an influence of the offset.

Abstract: A magnetic field assisted processing method entails heating an iron-carbon alloy at an austenitizing temperature for a time duration sufficient for the alloy to achieve an austenitic microstructure; cooling the iron-carbon alloy to an intermediate temperature defined by a continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram for the iron-carbon alloy at a rate sufficient to avoid phase transformation of the austenitic microstructure, the intermediate temperature being below a bainitic knee of the CCT diagram and above a martensite start temperature; and applying a high field strength magnetic field of at least about 0.2 Tesla to the iron-carbon alloy after reaching the intermediate temperature. The field is applied for a time duration sufficient to transform the austenitic microstructure into a fine dispersion of one or more iron carbide phases in a ferrite matrix in order to produce a magnetically-processed alloy having improved ductility and strength.

Abstract: There is provided an improved laser shock hardening method and apparatus which can eliminate spattering of a liquid and waving of the liquid surface upon laser irradiation, and can stably irradiate a workpiece with a laser beam. Thus, the present invention provides in a laser shock hardening method for carrying out surface processing of a workpiece in contact with a liquid by irradiating through the liquid the surface of the workpiece with a pulsed laser beam intermittently emitted from a laser irradiation device, the improvement comprising: providing a solid transparent to the wavelength of the laser, serving as an entrance window to the surface of the liquid; allowing the liquid to be present in the light path of the laser beam between the solid and the surface of the workpiece; and allowing the laser beam to enter through the solid and irradiating through the liquid the surface of the workpiece with the laser beam, thereby shock-hardening the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: There is provided an improved laser shock hardening method and apparatus which can eliminate spattering of a liquid and waving of the liquid surface upon laser irradiation, and can stably irradiate a workpiece with a laser beam. Thus, the present invention provides in a laser shock hardening method for carrying out surface processing of a workpiece in contact with a liquid by irradiating through the liquid the surface of the workpiece with a pulsed laser beam intermittently emitted from a laser irradiation device, the improvement comprising: providing a solid transparent to the wavelength of the laser, serving as an entrance window to the surface of the liquid; allowing the liquid to be present in the light path of the laser beam between the solid and the surface of the workpiece; and allowing the laser beam to enter through the solid and irradiating through the liquid the surface of the workpiece with the laser beam, thereby shock-hardening the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A metal heating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a light output portion for outputting light having a center wavelength in a wavelength range of 200 nm to 600 nm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a component {1, 2, 3, 4, 6) within the interior of a vehicle. Specifically, the present invention relates to a part of a seat-structure. The present invention further relates to a process to produce a component { 1, 2, 3, 4, 6) Within the interior of a vehicle.

Abstract: Surface processing of titanium alloy members for aerospace equipment imparts high wear resistance, lubricity and high fatigue strength. The method includes an oxygen diffusion step for causing oxygen to diffuse and penetrate in solid solution form into a surface of a titanium alloy member under an oxygen-containing gas atmosphere and a particle bombardment step for bombarding the surface of the titanium alloy member with an airflow containing particles. The aerospace equipment can include a flap rail member and slat rail member for aircraft.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to induction heating systems and methods for producing an object having a varying hardness along the length of the object. In some embodiments, the induction heating system comprises a radio frequency (RF) power source and a work coil electrically coupled to the RF power source, wherein the work coil is a helical conical coil.

Abstract: A surface layer structure of a silver article and a forming method thereof. The silver article is a decoration made of a silver metal body (or silver alloy body) or a silver decoration body such as in the form of a sheet. After the silver metal body is formed, at least a part of the surface of the silver metal body is heated to a recrystallization temperature to form a recrystallized surface layer. Accordingly, the residual stresses of the silver metal body are eliminated and the malleability thereof is enhanced. The crystalline grains of the recrystallized surface layer can regrow to present the specific qualities of cubic lattices. The recrystallized surface layer can be further processed by fine electrolysis to enhance the clearness and brilliance of the recrystallized surface layer. The recrystallized surface layer can be further electroplated with a colored electroplating material to form a colorful electroplated layer.

Abstract: A method of annealing and descaling hot-rolled austenitic stainless steel strip wherein. The steel strip is descaled in a connected plasma descaling installation after annealing and subsequent cooling. The plasma descaling is carried out under vacuum in a plurality of stages, and the steel strip is subjected to a controlled cooling between these stages and after the final stage by means of cooling rolls so that the steel strip has a temperature below 100° C. when exiting the plasma descaling installation. An apparatus to practice the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wear-resistant mechanical parts.

Abstract: Methods for removing random or uncontrolled surface defects from a work piece surface are provided, by applying a plurality of induced controlled defects over the random defects to alter the surface texture.

Abstract: A method for laser shock processing a device, including a metallic body having a surface, comprises conformally applying a compliant solid material to the first region on the surface of the metallic body and applying a layer of ablative material to the second region on the surface of the metallic body. A damping liquid is flowed over the layer of ablative material. An array of pulses of laser energy is directed through the damping fluid to impact the layer of ablative material on the surface and peen the surface in the second region. The pulses induce pressure waves within the metallic body which propagate to the surface in the first region. The compliant solid material acts as a momentum trap, so that the acoustic waves are at least partially coupled into the compliant solid material and attenuated outside of the metallic body.

Abstract: Object of the Invention The invention provides a forged exhaust poppet valve and a method of solution heat treating the same, in which only a predetermined portion of the valve is subjected to the solution heat treatment so as to provide the seat portion of the valve with satisfactory wear resistance, and a predetermined transitional neck-stem region with satisfactory high-temperature creep strength. Means for Achieving the Object An exhaust poppet valve (10) comprises a head portion (12) which has a seat portion (14) on the outer periphery thereof and is integral with the diametrically tapered neck portion (16) of a stem portion (18) of the valve. Using a radio-frequency heating apparatus, a solution heat treatment is given to a predetermined transitional region (A) defined between the neck and stem portions that is exposed to exhaust air during a valve opening period so that the grain size in the region (A) is controlled not to exceed ASTM 10.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously laser shock peening opposite laser shock peening surfaces on opposite sides of an article, such as a gas turbine engine airfoil, with varying thickness using oppositely aimed laser beams and varying surface fluence of the laser beams over the laser shock peening surfaces as a function of the thickness of the article beneath each one of a plurality of laser shock peened spots formed by the beams on the surfaces. The fluence may be equal to the thickness multiplied by a volumetric fluence factor, the volumetric fluence factor being held constant over the laser shock peening surface. The volumetric fluence factor may be in a range of about 1200 J/cm3 to 1800 J/cm3 and more particularly about 1500 J/cm3. Laser beam energy may be varied with a computer program controlling firing of the laser beam.

Abstract: A high purity Ni—V alloy, high purity Ni—V alloy target and high purity Ni—V alloy thin film wherein the purity of the Ni—V alloy excluding Ni, V and gas components is 99.9 wt % or higher, and the V content variation among ingots, targets or thin films is within 0.4%. With these high purity Ni—V alloy, high purity Ni—V alloy target and high purity Ni—V alloy thin film having a purity of 99.9 wt % or higher, the variation among ingots, targets or thin films is small, the etching property is improved, and isotopic elements such as U and Th that emit alpha particles having an adverse effect on microcircuits in a semiconductor device are reduced rigorously. Further provided is a method of manufacturing such high purity Ni—V alloys capable of effectively reducing the foregoing impurities.

Abstract: A periodic structure is to be successively formed over an extensive area with a uniaxial laser beam. Such method includes irradiating a uniaxial laser beam near an ablation threshold to a surface of a material; and executing an overlapped scanning on the irradiated region, so as to cause an ablation by interference between an incident beam and a surface scattered wave along the material surface; increasing the scattered wave; causing an interference at an interval equal to a wavelength of the laser beam, to thereby cause spontaneous formation of a periodic structure. The periodic structure can be made to have a different ripple spacing by changing an incident angle of the laser beam to the material surface. When the laser incident beam has an angle, the ripple spacing can be changed by changing a scanning direction.

Abstract: Hard phase particles including Co alloy particles, carbide alloy particles, and silicide particles are dispersed substantially uniformly throughout a matrix composed of Cu self-fluxing alloy of a cladded portion. The cladded portion contains 6 to 15% by weight of Co, 3 to 8% by weight of one of Cr and Mo, 0.3 to 1% by weight of W, 0.5 to 1.8% by weight of Fe, 8 to 15% by weight of Ni, 0.08 to 0.2% by weight of C, 1.5 to 4% by weight of Si, 0.5 to 0.8% by weight of Al, and 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of P, and inevitable impurities and Cu as a balance. The hard phase particles have an average particle diameter of 8 to 20 ?m and a particle size distribution width of 0.1 to 100 ?m, and to occupy 10 to 20% in an arbitrary cross section of the cladded portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a workpiece involves performing any one of various post-processing part modification steps on a workpiece that has been previously subjected to laser shock processing. In one step, material is removed from the compressive residual stress region of the processed workpiece. Alternately, the workpiece may be provided with oversized dimensions such that the removal process removes an amount of material sufficient to generate a processed workpiece having dimensions substantially conforming to design specifications. Alternately, the material removal process is adapted to establish a penetration depth for material removal that coincides with the depth at which the workpiece exhibits maximum compressive residual stress. Alternately, a first high-intensity laser shock processing treatment is performed on the workpiece, followed by the removal of material from the compressive residual stress region, and then a second low-intensity laser shock processing treatment is performed on the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are present for manufacturing a part. The part is comprised of a metal alloy and is positioned to form a positioned part. An electromagnetic field is generated that heats the positioned part. A surface of the positioned part is exposed to an inert gas, while the electromagnetic field is generated to create an inverse thermal gradient between an exterior of the positioned part and an interior section of the positioned part to form a heat treated part.

Abstract: Disclosed is an internal combustion engine component (1) which is made of an aluminum alloy and comprises at least one area (2) that is subjected to a great thermal load during operation of the internal combustion engine. Said area (2) that is subjected to a great thermal load is small compared to the entire component (1) and is provided with an alloy composition which is modified in relation to the entire component (1) in such a way that the area (2) that is subjected to a great thermal load has a greater breaking elongation than the entire component (1).

Abstract: A method for laser shock peening an article, such as a gas turbine engine airfoil, with varying thickness by varying a surface fluence of a laser beam over a laser shock peening surface as a function of the thickness beneath a laser shock peened spot formed by the beam on the surface. The fluence may be equal to the thickness multiplied by a volumetric fluence factor, the volumetric fluence factor being held constant over the laser shock peening surface. The volumetric fluence factor may be in a range of about 1200 J/cm3 to 1800 J/cm3 and more particularly about 1500 J/cm3. The method may include varying energy in the laser beam using a computer program controlling firing of the laser beam. A device such as an optical attenuator external to a laser performing firing may be used to vary the energy.

Abstract: A method of producing bicycle ratchet bushing is provided, wherein an alloyed fundamental material is applied to the processes of a modeling process and a detailing treatment to form a product of bicycle ratchet bushing. Wherein, when the processes of drilling and tapping a hole of the modeling process are completed, the tapped hole of the workpiece is connected to a screw rod, and the screw rod is clamped by a drawing machine, so that the workpiece can be penetrated through the mold of the drawing machine to proceed with the drawing process. When the drawing process is working, it is not necessary to apply a head-hitting process to the workpiece as the conventional drawing method does, therefore the outer teeth of the ratchet of the workpiece will not be deformed by an external force, and can penetrated into the mold for further drawing process, therefore the whole manufacturing processes can be controlled efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steel band 1 for the manufacturing of doctor blades, coater blades or creping blades comprising a steel composition comprising in percent per weight 1-3% C, 4-10% Cr, 1-8% Mo, 2.5-10% V and the remainder essentially iron and contaminants in normal amounts, wherein the steel band 1 is produced by using a powder metallurgical process. Further, this invention relates to doctor blades, coater blades or creping blades of this steel band, as well as a method for its manufacture.

Abstract: A laser peening process for the densification of metal surfaces and sub-layers and for changing surface chemical activities provides retardation of the up-take and penetration of atoms and molecules, particularly Hydrogen, which improves the lifetime of such laser peened metals. Penetration of hydrogen into metals initiates an embrittlement that leaves the material susceptible to cracking.

Abstract: A sliding surface 4A of a shoe 4 undergoes laser radiation in a shape of a large number of parallel lines to form a large number of swollen portions 6 and concave portions 7 in adjacent positions thereof. The swollen portions 6 and the inner side thereof become direct-hardened portions 11 with a high hardness and the concave portions 7 and the inner side thereof become double-hardened portions 12, which are lower in hardness than the swollen portions 6. After the laser hardening, the sliding surface 4A undergoes lapping up to a position of an imaginary line 15 to delete the relief and form a flat and smooth plane. Thereafter the sliding surface 4A undergoes buffing so that portions with a low hardness are chipped off more than portions with a high hardness to form a large number of minute irregularities on the sliding surface 4A.

Abstract: A method of forming gray iron components includes applying a substantially uniform magnetic field to gray iron. The method also includes heat-treating the gray iron while the gray iron is within the magnetic field.

Abstract: A method is provided for depositing a hard wear resistant surface onto a porous or non-porous base material of a medical implant. The wear resistant surface of the medical implant device may be formed by a Laser Based Metal Deposition (LBMD) method such as Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS). The wear resistant surface may include a blend of multiple different biocompatible materials. Further, functionally graded layers of biocompatible materials may be used to form the wear resistant surface. Usage of a porous material for the base may promote bone ingrowth to allow the implant to fuse strongly with the bone of a host patient. The hard wear resistant surface provides device longevity, particularly when applied to bearing surfaces such as artificial joint bearing surfaces or a dental implant bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A method of producing flat products in aluminum alloys comprising: A) cold rolling to a hardened condition: B) applying a short-time ion beam surface treatment; and C) repeating steps A and B until a flat rolled product of a specified thickness is obtained. The surface treatment is preferably performed using an ion beam of atomic mass A?10 amu having a power of between about 20-40 keV and an ion current density of between about 0.1-1 mA/cm2 for from about 5 to about 200 seconds. In the process of irradiation flat products may be continuously and uniformly displaced with respect to the ion beam.

Abstract: A method of weld repairing a superalloy material at ambient temperature without causing cracking of the base material. A superalloy material such as CM-247 LC, as is commonly used in gas turbine blade applications, is subjected to an overage pre-weld heat treatment in order to grow the volume percentage of gamma prime precipitate in the material to a level sufficient to permit ambient temperature welding without cracking. CM-247 LC material is heated in a vacuum furnace at a rate of about 0.5° C. per minute to an intermediate temperature of about 885° C. The material is then gas fan quenched to a temperature of about 52° C. to grow the gamma prime precipitate percentage to about 55%. A fusion repair weld may then be performed on the material at an ambient temperature using a filler material having a chemistry matching a chemistry of the base material.

Abstract: The method of preventing cold-worked stress corrosion cracking in the iron steels and alloyed steels including stainless steels comprises removing a residual tensile stressed layer, optionally generating residual compression, through the impact of irradiation with the ultra-short femtosecond pulse and kW class high average-power laser, and removing a hardened surface layer extremely susceptible to stress corrosion cracking, whereby this susceptible hardened surface layer with many concentrated dislocation defects and the likes is removed without generating or introducing any of such hardened layer in the process of its removal. The method is free from the risk of damaging other equipment by peening with steel balls or other shaped shots, is almost unlimited in actual environment, effectiveness, work, place and other conditions for application, is inexpensive, and functions continuously for a much longer period than an ordinary nuclear reactor's service lifetimes.

Abstract: A method of depositing a hard wear resistant surface onto a porous or non-porous base material of a medical implant. The medical implant device formed by a Laser Based Metal Deposition (LBMD) method. The porous material of the base promotes bone ingrowth allowing the implant to fuse strongly with the bone of a host patient. The hard wear resistant surface provides device longevity when applied to bearing surfaces such as artificial joint bearing surface or a dental implant bearing surface.

Abstract: Method for increasing the fatigue strength of a mechanical part of a wind turbine and/or for reducing the tendency to form what are called “white etching cracks” or “brittle flakes” in such a bearing, which includes making one or several of the bearing rings and/or roller elements concerned of the bearing at least partly of a hardened steel having a carbon content between 0.4 and 0.8 percent by weight.

Abstract: Temperature measurement and heat-treating methods and systems. One method includes identifying a temperature of a first surface of a workpiece, and controlling energy of an irradiance flash incident on the first surface of the workpiece, in response to the temperature of the first surface. Identifying may include identifying the temperature of the first surface during an initial portion of the irradiance flash, and controlling may include controlling the power of a remaining portion of the irradiance flash. The first surface of the workpiece may include a device side of a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method for the production of mechanically highly stressed machinery components, with at least one pass-through opening, especially suction roll sleeves on paper machines, includes the material characteristics of the machinery component being altered with regard to an increase in the resistance against vibratory fissure corrosion on the machinery component in the localized area of the pass-through opening. A roll sleeve produced according to this method is also provided.

Abstract: A damaged gas turbine blade which has previously been in service, and which is made of a base metal, is furnished. Any damaged material is removed from the damaged blade tip. The damaged blade tip is weld repaired with a nickel-base superalloy that is more resistant to oxidation resistance than is the base metal in the operating environment of the tip-repaired gas turbine blade. The method does not include any step of coating a lateral surface of the repaired blade tip with a non-ceramic coating after the step of weld repairing.

Abstract: A method for controlled remelting of or laser metal forming on the surface (5) of an article (1) can include moving a light source and a signal capturing apparatus over the article (1). The light source having a specific power can be used to melt the surface (5) of the article (1) locally and to form a melt pool (7). Thereby an optical signal (13) is captured by the signal capturing apparatus from the melt pool (7), and the monitored optical signal (13) is used for the determination of temperature and temperature fluctuations as properties of the melt pool (7). Furthermore, a control system (16) with a feedback circuit is used to adjust at least one process parameter such as the power of the light source such that desired melt pool properties are obtained. Subsequently the melt pool (7) solidifies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal component comprising at least a first zone treated by putting layers beneath the surface thereof in compression. It is characterized in that it comprises at least a first layer put in compression by shot peening and a deeper subjacent second layer put in compression by laser shock peening. The component may be a turbomachine blade. According to the method, said zone is firstly treated by prestress shot peening followed by compression treatment by laser shock peening.

Abstract: A sliding surface 4A of a shoe 4 undergoes laser radiation in a shape of a large number of parallel lines to form a large number of swollen portions 6 and to form concave portions 7 in adjacent positions thereof. The swollen portions 6 and the inner side thereof become direct hardening portions 11 with high hardness and the concave portions 7 and the inner side thereof become double hardening portions 12, which are lower in hardness than the swollen portions 6. After the laser hardening, the sliding surface 4A undergoes wrapping up to a position of an imaginary line 15 to delete relief to form a flat and smooth plane. Thereafter the sliding surface 4A undergoes buffing. Thereby, portions with low hardness are chipped off more largely than portions with high hardness to form a large number of minute irregularities on the sliding surface 4A (see FIG. 6). A large number of minute irregularities is formed uniformly on the sliding surface 4A of the shoe 4 and lubrication oil will be introduced thereinto.

Abstract: A method for preparing metal for heating by infrared radiance to enable uniform and consistent heating. The surface of one or more metal parts, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy parts, is treated to alter the surface finish to affect the reflectivity of the surface. The surface reflectivity is evaluated, such as by taking measurements at one or more points on the surface, to determine if a desired reflectivity has been achieved. The treating and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity has been achieved. Once the treating has altered the surface finish to achieve the desired reflectivity, the metal part may then be exposed to infrared radiance to heat the metal part to a desired temperature, and that heating will be substantially consistent throughout by virtue of the desired reflectivity.

Abstract: A process for electromagnetic (EM) energy-induced solid to liquid phase transitions in metals is disclosed. The method utilizes coherent EM fields to transform solid materials such as silicon and aluminum without significant detectable heat generation. The transformed material reverts to a solid form after the EM field is removed within a period of time dependent on the material and the irradiation conditions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a complex heat treated tubular structure includes making a tube assembly having tube portions along its length of differing characteristic. The tube assembly is formed by lengthwise tube bending and hydroforming to provide a desired shape. The tube is formed by lengthwise tube bending and hydroforming to provide a desired shape. The tube is supported in a locating fixture having a plurality of supports spaced along the tube to support the tube against distortion. A local region of the tube is heated in at least one local region to a temperature to heat treat the local region. A quenching medium is then flushed through the hollow interior of the tube, and the tube is removed from the locating fixture..

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a workpiece involves performing any one of various post-processing part modification steps on a workpiece that has been previously subjected to laser shock processing. In one step, material is removed from the compressive residual stress region of the processed workpiece. Alternately, the workpiece may be provided with oversized dimensions such that the removal process removes an amount of material sufficient to generate a processed workpiece having dimensions substantially conforming to design specifications. Alternately, the material removal process is adapted to establish a penetration depth for material removal that coincides with the depth at which the workpiece exhibits maximum compressive residual stress. Alternately, a first high-intensity laser shock processing treatment is performed on the workpiece, followed by the removal of material from the compressive residual stress region, and then a second low-intensity laser shock processing treatment is performed on the workpiece.

Abstract: Methods according to prior art for producing three-dimensional molded bodies generally require outer molds which define the geometry of a component to be produced. The inventive method for producing three-dimensional molded bodies renders one such mold redundant. The geometry of a component to be produced is defined by a pre-determined laser guidance or by the geometry of the partial quantities used.