Abstract: The invention generally relates to apparatuses for focusing ions at or above ambient pressure and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an apparatus for focusing ions that includes an electrode having a cavity, at least one inlet within the electrode configured to operatively couple with an ionization source, such that discharge generated by the ionization source is injected into the cavity of the electrode, and an outlet. The cavity in the electrode is shaped such that upon application of voltage to the electrode, ions within the cavity are focused and directed to the outlet, which is positioned such that a proximal end of the outlet receives the focused ions and a distal end of the outlet is open to ambient pressure.

Abstract: A system for LAM that uses a scalable array of individually controllable laser beams that are generated by a fiber array system to process materials into an object using a powder bed, wire feed, or direct deposition. The adaptive control of individual beams may include beam power, focal spot width, centroid position, scanning orientation, amplitude and frequency, piston phase and polarization states of individual beams. These characteristics can be independently adjusted to control LAM characteristics including microstructure, mechanical and surface quality characteristics. The system may also have a set of material sensors that gather information on a material and environment immediately before, during, and immediately after processing. This information can be used to adapt the material processing routine to improve LAM productivity and parts quality. The system also supports a variety of beam shaping methods that improve the quality of produced objects or mitigate processing issues.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coated metal substrate includes the steps of: (1) inserting a substrate with a chromium(III) oxide layer inside a CVD chamber; (2) heating the substrate to a temperature which falls in the range of 400 to 500 degrees Celsius; (3) transporting gaseous nitrogen (N2) and tantalum chloride (TaCl5) into the CVD chamber for at least two cycles; (4) ceasing the transportation of tantalum chloride (TaCl5) while nitrogen continues to flow from the inlet to the outlet; (5) reacting the tantalum chloride and the chromium(III) oxide and creating by-products; and (6) vacuuming the by-product matter from the CVD chamber via the flowing nitrogen gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together so as to form the article, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one electron beam source emitting an electron beam for heating and/or fusing said powder material. Controlling the electron beam source in a first mode when said formation of said three dimensional article is in a first process step. Controlling said electron beam in a second mode when said formation of said three dimensional article is in a second process step, wherein in said first mode an electron beam current from said electron beam source is controlled in a feed-forward mode and in said second mode said electron beam current is controlled in a feed-back mode.

Abstract: The system comprises a plurality of first fluidic flow channels and a distribution device fed by a flow of a first fluid, notably a liquid, and injecting the flow of first fluid into the plurality of first channels at an output of the distribution device. The output of the distribution device consists of an distribution element for the first fluid, notably formed in a porous material, configured in such a way as to be passed through by the first fluid with a pressure drop such that the first fluid leaves from the distribution element with a uniform surface distribution at an output surface of the distribution element, in a way that ensures a uniform feed of first fluid for the first channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser processing method comprising the steps of attaching a protective tape 25 to a front face 3 of a wafer 1a, irradiating a substrate 15 with laser light L while employing a rear face of the wafer 1a as a laser light entrance surface and locating a light-converging point P within the substrate 15 so as to form a molten processed region 13 due to multiphoton absorption, causing the molten processed region 13 to form a cutting start region 8 inside by a predetermined distance from the laser light entrance surface along a line 5 along which the object is intended to be cut in the wafer 1a, attaching an expandable tape 23 to the rear face 21 of the wafer 1a, and expanding the expandable tape 23 so as to separate a plurality of chip parts 24 produced upon cutting the wafer 1a from the cutting start region 8 acting as a start point from each other.

Abstract: A welding head is provided. The welding head includes a bracket and a plurality of blocks coupled to the bracket. Each of the plurality of blocks has a contact tip. The contact tips are adapted to receive an electrode. Further, at least one of the plurality of blocks is capable of variable positioning relative to the bracket.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting an electrically conductive metallic material comprises an auxiliary ion plasma electron emitter configured to produce a focused electron field including a cross-sectional profile having a first shape. The apparatus further comprises a steering system configured to direct the focused electron field to impinge the focused electron field on at least a portion of the electrically conductive metallic material to at least one of melt or heat any solidified portions of the electrically conductive metallic material, any solid condensate within the electrically conductive metallic material, and/or regions of a solidifying ingot.

Abstract: An installation for fabricating a part by selectively melting powder, the installation including a mechanism producing a beam, for example a laser beam or an electron beam, and a mechanism moving a point of impact of the beam over a layer of powder. The installation further includes a collector element for collecting projections of molten powder produced during local melting of the powder by the beam, the collector element including an opening for passing the beam, and a mechanism configured to move the collector element jointly with the beam over the layer of powder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generatively producing or for repairing at least one area of a component, wherein a zone arranged downstream of a molten bath is post-heated to a post-heating temperature and the component is set to a base temperature, and also a device for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: Electron beam annealing apparatuses for annealing a thin layer on a substrate and annealing methods using the apparatuses are provided. The electron beam annealing apparatuses may include an electron beam scanning unit that may scan a pulsed electron beam onto a substrate.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electron beam process wherein a wire is melted and deposited on a substrate as a molten pool comprises generating the electron beam with a complex raster pattern, and directing the beam onto an outer surface of the wire to thereby control a location of the wire with respect to the molten pool. Directing the beam selectively heats the outer surface of the wire and maintains the position of the wire with respect to the molten pool. An apparatus for controlling an electron beam process includes a beam gun adapted for generating the electron beam, and a controller adapted for providing the electron beam with a complex raster pattern and for directing the electron beam onto an outer surface of the wire to control a location of the wire with respect to the molten pool.

Abstract: A system, method and masking arrangement are provided of enhancing the width of polycrystalline grains produced using sequential lateral solidification using a modified mask pattern is disclosed. One exemplary mask pattern employs rows of diamond or circular shaped areas in order to control the width of the grain perpendicular to the direction of primary crystallization.

Abstract: A method for layer-by-layer manufacturing of a three-dimensional metallic work piece, comprising the steps of: delivering a metallic feed material in a substantially solid state into a feed region; emitting an electron beam having one or more predetermined electrical currents; translating the electron beam through a first predetermined raster pattern frame in an x-y plane that includes: a plurality of points within the feed region sufficient so that the metallic feed material is subjected to a melting beam power density level sufficient to cause melting of the metallic feed material and formation of a molten pool deposit; and a plurality of points in a substrate region that is outside of the feed region, sufficient so that the plurality of points outside the feed region is subjected to a substrate beam power density level that is different from (e.g.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electron beam process wherein a wire is melted and deposited on a substrate as a molten pool comprises generating the electron beam with a complex raster pattern, and directing the beam onto an outer surface of the wire to thereby control a location of the wire with respect to the molten pool. Directing the beam selectively heats the outer surface of the wire and maintains the position of the wire with respect to the molten pool. An apparatus for controlling an electron beam process includes a beam gun adapted for generating the electron beam, and a controller adapted for providing the electron beam with a complex raster pattern and for directing the electron beam onto an outer surface of the wire to control a location of the wire with respect to the molten pool.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting an electrically conductive metallic material comprises an auxiliary ion plasma electron emitter configured to produce a focused electron field including a cross-sectional profile having a first shape. The apparatus further comprises a steering system configured to direct the focused electron field to impinge the focused electron field on at least a portion of the electrically conductive metallic material to at least one of melt or heat any solidified portions of the electrically conductive metallic material, any solid condensate within the electrically conductive metallic material, and/or regions of a solidifying ingot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making metallic and/or non-metallic products 2, in particular dental products, by freeform sintering and/or melting, in which the products 2 are fabricated layer by layer from a material 5 that is applied layer by layer by means of a computer-controlled high-energy beam 7, in particular a laser or electron beam. In order to reduce production times, beam 7 irradiates predetermined positions P1 to P6 of a layer of a material 5 a plurality of time, namely m times, where m is a whole integer greater than 1. Each of said positions P1 to P6 is initially heated during the first irradiation to a temperature below the melting point Tmelt of the material 5, and during the mth irradiation to a temperature above said melting point and is completely melted over the entire thickness of the layer in such a way that the material (5) fuses at said position to the layer thereunder. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing said method.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting an electrically conductive metallic material includes a vacuum chamber and a hearth disposed in the vacuum chamber. At least one wire-discharge ion plasma electron emitter is disposed in or adjacent the vacuum chamber and is positioned to direct a wide-area field of electrons into the vacuum chamber, wherein the wide-area electron field has sufficient energy to heat the electrically conductive metallic material to its melting temperature. The apparatus may further include at least one of a mold and an atomizing apparatus which is in communication with the vacuum chamber and is positioned to receive molten material from the hearth.

Abstract: An apparatus for formation of a three dimensional object comprising a sealed container; an electron beam subsystem capable of directing energy within said container; a positioning subsystem contained within said container; a wire feed subsystem contained within said container; an instrumentation subsystem electronically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, and wire feed subsystem; and a power distribution subsystem electrically connected to said electron beam subsystem, positioning subsystem, wire feed subsystem, and said instrumentation subsystem.

Abstract: The method of the invention produces protruding features on a glass layer. Initially, a conductive layer is applied to the glass layer and is coupled to a source of reference potential. This conductive layer prevents a build-up of electrons in the glass layer when it is exposed to an electron beam. Thereafter, an electron beam is directed at combined layers in areas where protruding features are to be produced. The energy, current density and duration of application of the electron beam are controlled so as to create a melt/softened region within the glass layer. Such softening and differences in expansion rates between the softened glass and the surrounding glass causes a protruding feature to appear on the surface of the glass layer.

Abstract: Liquid filter constructions include a baffle plate secured to a can, by way of laser welding. A filter element is operably oriented within the interior of the can. The filter element includes a first end cap and a media pack secured to the first end cap. In some embodiments, the first end cap radially abuts an outer, annular surface of a tubular member of the baffle plate to form a radially directed seal between the first end cap and the tubular member. Liquid filter constructions of this type have a burst strength between 500-800 psi (about 3.4-5.5 MPa), along a longitudinal section of the can wall. Constructions of this type eliminate a roll or lock seam, an inner gasket, an inner compressive spring, and a gasket retainer. Systems for using liquid filters are described herein. Methods of constructing and using these types of filter arrangements are also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for beam welding of hardenable steels using a short-time heat treatment. A preferred area of application of the invention is motor vehicle and mechanical engineering. In the method according to the invention, the short-time heat treatment occurs first as the sole preheating in a defined manner, and then the beam welding begins after a defined cooling time, at the latest.