Abstract: A machining head is provided for a laser machining system configured to machine a workpiece using a laser beam. The machining head includes a housing having an opening for emitting the laser beam from the machining head; at least one reflective reference at the housing; and a measuring device configured to direct an optical measurement beam towards the opening and the at least one reflective reference. The measuring device is further configured to determine a distance (d1) between the end portion and the workpiece on the basis of a first reflection (A) of the optical measurement beam from the at least one reflective reference and a second reflection (B) of the optical measurement beam from the workpiece.

Abstract: Provided is a laser machining device that includes a laser oscillator that oscillates a laser beam; a machining head that irradiates the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator onto a workpiece; and an optical path duct that includes an optical system that guides the laser beam from the laser oscillator to the machining head. A plurality of operation modes, in each of which a parameter is varied when being used when the workpiece is being machined, are provided for the laser machining device; and an energy saving mode, in which the output range of the laser beam is set to be less than that in other operation modes, is included in the operation modes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a contour cut in a sheet metal web (BB) transported in a direction of transport (T) by means of a conveying apparatus (3). To accelerate the production of the contour cut, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to divide the sheet metal web (BB) into a plurality of overlapping processing strips and to assign successively two laser cutting units (10, 11) to at least two processing strips in the direction of transport (T).

Abstract: A method for producing an electrical component is provided. The method includes steps of providing a continuous strip material and separating a section from the continuous strip material using an electron beam.

Abstract: A method of forming a sample from a capillary with high-pressure frozen sample material comprises providing a high-pressure capillary with vitrified sample material at a temperature T1 below the glass transition temperature Tg, cutting the capillary, warming the capillary to a temperature T2 between temperature T1 and temperature Tg, cooling the capillary to a temperature T3 below temperature T2, as a result of which material is extruded from the capillary, and freeing a sample from the extruded sample material at a temperature below temperature Tg. Repeating this temperature cycle results in further extrusion of the sample material. The extruded material can then be sliced by, for example, ion beam milling.

Abstract: The present invention efficiently processes work pieces by transferring them without bringing them outside. The present invention comprises: a stage 4 for working, which is used when working a work piece D, L by irradiating a focused beam B while observing the work piece D, L in an observation region W of a previously determined range, and possessing a table 10 having plural mount bases 2, 3 on whose upper faces 2a, 3a there can be respectively mounted the work piece D, L; and a rotation slant means 11 rotating respectively the mount base 2, 3 about a Z-axis perpendicular to the upper faces 2a, 3a and slanting the upper faces 2a, 3a to an arbitrary angle, wherein the table 10 is made possible to move so as to dispose respectively the plural mount bases 2, 3 to an inside of the observation region W.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machining device (10) comprising at least one machining head (16) designed to provide at least one high-energy machining beam (22), especially an electron or laser beam. Such a machining device is used to remove material from workpieces (28) or for connecting workpieces (28) by bonding, especially by means of welding. According to the invention, at least one scanning device (32) designed as an optical coherence tomograph and provided for surface scanning is associated with the machining head (16). The invention also relates to a method for machining material using a high-energy machining beam for scanning surface areas of a workpiece which is machined, not yet machined, or being machined, by means of an optical coherence tomograph.

Abstract: A method of processing of solar cells includes determining that a back-contact solar cell is defective. The back-contact solar cell includes a first plurality of interconnect pads at a first edge thereof, and a second plurality of interconnect pads at a second, opposed thereof, the first and second pluralities of interconnect pads having opposite operational charges. The back-contact solar cell is then diced to define at least first and second back-contact solar cell sections. The first back-contact solar cell section has at least two interconnect pads, of the plurality of interconnect pads, at respective opposed edges thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaving a film of material utilizing thermal flux. The method includes providing a substrate having a face and an underlying cleave region including a prepared initiation region. Additionally, the method includes subjecting the initiation region to a first thermal flux to form a cleave front separating the cleave region of the substrate to a film portion and a bulk portion. The method further includes subjecting an area of the bulk portion substantially in the vicinity of the cleave front to a second thermal flux to cause a temperature difference above and below the cleave region for inducing a propagation of the cleave front expanding the film portion to the area at the expense of the bulk portion. Furthermore, the method includes determining a scan path for the second thermal flux based on the cleave front. Moreover, the method includes scanning the second thermal flux to follow the scan path to further propagate the cleave front.

Abstract: A method of using Joule heating to regenerate nanowire based biosensors. The nanowire based biosensor contains various detection molecules, such as nucleic acids, bound to the surface of the nanowire. Binding of analyte nucleic acids to the detection molecules alters the electrical properties of the nanowire, producing a detectable signal. By passing a Joule heating effective amount of electrical current through the nanowire, the nanowire may be heated to a temperature sufficient to dissociate the bound analyte from the detection molecule, without damaging the detection molecules or the bond between the detection molecules and the nanowire surface. The Joule heated nanowires may thus be regenerated to an analyte-free “fresh” state and used for further sensing. In alternate embodiments, the specificity of the nanowire for a particular analyte may be modulated by using Joule heating to heat the nanowire to an intermediate temperature where some analytes bind and some do not.

Abstract: There are a multiplicity of methods of making through-holes. In particular in the production of a multiplicity of film-cooling holes, as in gas turbine blades or combustion chamber elements, small time advantages are also important when making a hole. The method according to the invention, to make the hole close to the final contour in each case in sections in a top and a bottom region in order to then produce the final contour with other laser parameters, achieves time advantages.

Abstract: In a gas-turbine-stator-vane insert removing device with which welding metal that connects an insert collar, which protrudes outward from an outer circumferential surface of an insert, and a stator-vane-outer-shroud non-gas path surface, which surrounds the periphery of the insert collar, is removed by means of an arc discharge repeated at a short cycle between an electrode and a gas-turbine stator vane, a bottom surface of the electrode has the same plan-view shape as a plan-view shape of the welding metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new technology which uses a surface modification method for ultra-precision machining, and in particular relates to a particle beam-assisted ultraprecision machining method for single-crystal brittle materials. The invention, the particle beam-assisted ultra-precision machining method for single-crystal brittle materials, can significantly improve machining accuracy, reduce surface finish and greatly reduce tool wear during ultra-precision machining of brittle materials.

Abstract: Temporal focusing of spatially chirped femtosecond laser pulses overcomes previous limitations for ablating high aspect ratio features with low numerical aperture (NA) beams. Simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing reduces nonlinear interactions, such as self-focusing, prior to the focal plane so that deep (˜1 mm) features with parallel sidewalls are ablated at high material removal rates.

Abstract: Reference leakage device (1) for use in leakage detection of gas, comprises a membrane (5) adapted to be interposed between two environments having respective pressures pu and pa, where (I). The membrane has an orifice (6) adapted to determine a controlled gas flow depending on the pressure pu. The orifice has a preset diameter D and length L such that (II). The diameter D and the length L are further dimensioned in such a manner that the equivalent diameter De of the orifice is De?100 nm, where De is defined by the relation De=D.a1/2 wherein a is the transmission probability of the orifice, function of the L/D ratio. The orifice is adapted to operate in molecular flow regime in an entire range of p? values comprising the value of atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: In the method for cutting a material layer (20) along a given cutting line (21), a cutting beam is moved so as to impinge on the material layer (20) laterally offset by a distance (W) from the cutting line (21). The distance (W) is determined as a function of the variations of the cutting speed at which the cutting beam is moved, and/or as a function of the deviations of the effective cutting beam cross-section from a circular shape.

Abstract: A beam processing apparatus is provided in which a beam is irradiated to a layer 3 to be processed which is formed on one surface of a substrate 2, thereby to process the layer. The apparatus has a gas floating mechanism 10 that supports the substrate in flatly-floated state by ejecting gas, and a beam irradiation unit 50 that irradiates a beam to the layer 3 which is formed on one surface of the substrate 2, thereby to process the layer 3. The substrate 2 is arranged on the gas floating mechanism 10 with one surface of the substrate 2 on which the layer 3 is formed being directed downwards. Then, processing is applied to the layer 3 by irradiating a beam on the layer 3 through the substrate 2 by means of the beam irradiation unit 50 from above the other surface of the substrate 2.

Abstract: A cutting machine includes a suction duct that is movable with a cutting head of the cutting machine, using a common drive. The suction duct is disposed beneath the workpiece support and coupled to the motion unit supporting the cutting head so that it moves with the motion unit while an opening of the suction duct remains positioned below the cutting head during a cutting operation. The suction duct removes cutting debris and dust, and protects underlying machine components from beam damage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machining device (10) comprising at least one machining head (16) designed to provide at least one high-energy machining beam (22), especially an electron or laser beam. Such a machining device is used to remove material from workpieces (28) or for connecting workpieces (28) by bonding, especially by means of welding. According to the invention, at least one scanning device (32) designed as an optical coherence tomograph and provided for surface scanning is associated with the machining head (16). The invention also relates to a method for machining material using a high-energy machining beam for scanning surface areas of a workpiece which is machined, not yet machined, or being machined, by means of an optical coherence tomograph.

Abstract: Arrangements and methods for connecting and mounting decorative ornaments, for example, beads, crystals, or gems, are disclosed. The arrangements and methods are particularly useful in mounting ornaments in decorative fixtures, such as chandeliers. In one aspect, an arrangement is provided that includes a first ornament having two mounting apertures and a second ornament having at least one mounting aperture; and at least one connector for connecting the first ornament to the second ornament whereby when hung the two apertures of the first ornament are laterally disposed from each other. Multiple pre-formed connectors are disclosed for use in connecting ornaments, such as ornament chains. Mounting hooks, mounting devices, and mounting arrangements are also provided for attaching ornaments to a support, for instance, mounting devices fabricated from thin plate, for example, by laser cutting.

Abstract: A process for producing through-holes in a sheet member to form a perforated article, such as an arcuate (non-planar) acoustic skin suitable for use in an acoustic panel of an aircraft engine nacelle. The process includes deforming a sheet member to have an arcuate shape with an arcuate surface, mounting and rotating the arcuate-shaped sheet member on a mandrel and then, while rotating the sheet member, directing an electron beam at the arcuate surface of the sheet member and deflecting the electron beam toward multiple locations on the arcuate surface to produce the through-holes through the sheet member in a defined hole pattern and thereby yield a perforated arcuate-shaped sheet member with holes having axes substantially normal to the arcuate surface. The holes are not subjected to elongation in a nonuniform manner after they are produced, and have the same transverse cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A spinner for fiberizing glass has fiberizing holes formed in the spinner sidewall by a process utilizing an electron beam perforating process. A backing material used in the process is deposited on the walls of the fiberizing holes for increasing the corrosion resistance of the fiberizing holes. With regard to the formation of each fiberizing hole, an interaction of the backing material with an electron beam during the electron beam perforating process creates a gaseous backing material that expands through a hole created by the electron beam in the spinner sidewall to eject molten alloy material of the spinner sidewall made molten by the electron beam from the hole and deposit a thin substantially uniform coating layer of the backing material on the wall of the hole to increase the corrosion resistance of the fiberizing hole thus formed.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a means for preventing electric/electronic materials from losing or degrading functionality when electrically conductive glasses are used as such electric/electronic materials. [Means for Solving the Problems] An electric/electronic circuit system comprises an electrically conductive glass member and an overcurrent preventing means for preventing overcurrent through the electrically conductive glass member, both contained within the electric/electronic circuit system.

Abstract: In the production of expanded material from a sheet material strip (4), in particular, a metal strip, cuts (2) are introduced into the material strip (4), by way of at least one cutting unit (5), using laser, water or electron streams, whereupon the material strip (4) is subjected to a drawing by way of a drawing device (28). The cuts in the material strip (4) are introduced by running the cutting unit (5), perpendicular to the longitudinal or transport direction (7) of the material strip, in the form of perpendicular cuts (2), along perpendicular lines (3), perpendicular to the longitudinal or transport direction (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluidizing base comprising a flat sheet (1) with holes (2) produced using a laser or electron beam. A sheet of this type has good fluidizing properties and also good cleanability. The invention also provides a method for producing a fluidizing base of this type and a fluidizing device comprising a fluidizing base of this type.

Abstract: A spinner for fiberizing glass has fiberizing holes formed in the spinner sidewall by a process utilizing an electron beam perforating process. A backing material used in the process is deposited on the walls of the fiberizing holes for increasing the corrosion resistance of the fiberizing holes. With regard to the formation of each fiberizing hole, an interaction of the backing material with an electron beam during the electron beam perforating process creates a gaseous backing material that expands through a hole created by the electron beam in the spinner sidewall to eject molten alloy material of the spinner sidewall made molten by the electron beam from the hole and deposit a thin substantially uniform coating layer of the backing material on the wall of the hole to increase the corrosion resistance of the fiberizing hole thus formed.

Abstract: A method of making a biosensor is provided. The method includes providing an electrically conductive material on a base and partially removing the conductive material using laser ablation from the base so that less than 90% of the conductive material remains on the base and at least one electrode pattern is formed from the conductive material. The at least one electrode pattern has an edge extending between two points. A standard deviation of the edge from a line extending between two points is less than about 6 ?m along the length of the edge.

Abstract: A gemstone micro-inscription system, comprising an energy source, a spatial light modulator, and a control, the control controlling a spatial light pattern modulation of the spatial light modulator, wherein the spatial light modulator exposes a photoresist on the gemstone, which selectively impedes an etching process to produce a pattern on the gemstone corresponding to the spatial light modulation pattern.

Abstract: A method of providing a printed circuit board, a printed circuit board formed according to the method, and a system comprising the printed circuit board. The method comprises: providing a microelectronic substrate; providing a via-defining substrate by providing via openings in the substrate using laser irradiation; providing a laser activatable film on the via-defining substrate; and providing interconnects on the via-defining substrate. Providing interconnects comprises providing a patterned build-up layer on the via-defining substrate comprising exposing the laser activatable film to laser irradiation to selectively activate portions of the film according to a predetermined interconnect pattern; and metallizing the patterned build-up layer according to the predetermined interconnect pattern to yield the interconnects to provide the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a texture to a surface of a workpiece is provided. The method comprises providing a workpiece to a texturizing chamber and scanning a beam of electromagnetic energy across the surface of the workpiece to form a plurality of features thereon. The features formed are generally depressions, protuberances, and combinations thereof. Also provided is a method of reducing contamination in a process chamber. The method comprises scanning a beam of electromagnetic energy across a surface of one or more process chamber components to form a plurality of features thereon, positioning the one or more chamber components into a process chamber, and initiating a process sequence within the process chamber.

Abstract: A method for altering a circuit pattern of a printed-circuit board includes the steps of removing a portion of the printed-circuit board so that the circuit pattern inside the printed-circuit board is exposed, and connecting an exposed portion of the circuit pattern to another portion of the printed-circuit board by a conductive body so that a circuit path is formed between the exposed portion of the circuit pattern and the other portion of the printed-circuit board.

Abstract: Shown is a device and a process for the simultaneous separating and welding of foils or foil tubes (5) where the device comprises at least one welding terminal (2) and an opposing terminal (3), and at least a part of the surface of the opposing terminal (3) turned toward the welding terminal (2) is equipped with a flexible absorbing body (4). It is inventive that the surface of the absorbing body (6) turned toward the welding terminal consists of metal.

Abstract: The system for laser processing webs includes a laser system having a beam source, a controller and one or more heads to direct a laser beam onto a web. A cylinder capable of controlled rotation applies a web-securing force to the web under the laser beam to secure the web so that the web does not flutter or shift during laser processing. A template may be placed over the cylinder to apply the web-securing force in specific patterns or areas as needed.

Abstract: A friction lining for use in the clutch plate of a friction clutch or a multiple wrap brake band for use in an automatic transmission is obtained by adhesively securing one side of a friction generating second layer to one side of a metallic first layer. The necessary incisions in the form of cuts, slots or slits are made from the exposed side of the second layer in a direction toward the exposed side of the first layer by resorting to one or more high-energy streams, such as laser beams, electron beams or liquid jets. Each incision can be made in one or more stages by a single stream or by a series of successively applied streams.

Abstract: A method of operating on a workpiece comprises causing relative movement between the workpiece and a power beam in a traverse direction so as to expose a series of locations on the workpiece to the power beam. At each location the power beam is caused to move relative to the workpiece in a predetermined manner having a component transverse to the traverse direction, and workpiece material is melted and displaced by the power beam so as to form a cavity or hole.

Abstract: Novel methods and devices for nanomachining a desired pattern on a surface of a conductive workpiece are disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises using an electron beam emitted from one or more nanotubes to evaporate nanoscale quantities of material from the workpiece surface. The surface of the workpiece to be machined may be excited to a threshold energy to reduce the amount of power required to be emitted by the nanotube. In another aspect, a device is described for nanomachining a desired pattern on a surface of a conductive workpiece, comprising a vessel capable of sustaining a vacuum, a leveling support, a nanopositioning stage, and a laser for heating the workpiece. A nanotool is provided comprising at least one nanotube supported on an electrically conductive base, adapted to emit an electron beam for evaporating material from an electrically conductive workpiece.

Abstract: A method of operating on a workpiece comprises causing relative movement between the workpiece and a power beam in a traverse direction so as to expose a series of locations on the workpiece to the power beam. At each location the power beam is caused to move relative to the workpiece in a predetermined manner having a component transverse to the traverse direction, and workpiece material is melted and displaced by the power beam so as to form a cavity or hole.

Abstract: A multi-axis machine method and apparatus for the control of the motion of a material processing device is disclosed. The device has supply element and the apparatus has a supply co-ordination element. The motion of the processing device can be co-ordinated with the motion of the apparatus such that the loading or twisting forces on the supply element is substantially reduced. The supply co-ordination element includes an angle drive mechanism and rotator housing assembly. An angle drive mechanism for setting the angle of a processing device, the mechanism includes a linear actuator connected to a rod and the rod is pivotally connected at a first end to the actuator and connected at a second end to a device support, the actuator being connected to the rod such that movement of the actuator causes the rod to move the processing device relative to the device support, in the device support.

Abstract: An electrical discharge machining probe for creation of micrometer and nanometer scale structures. The probe is further designed to allow ions to be accelerated toward a target surface. The probe is further designed and the ions are further selected and energized to either dislodge atoms from the target surface or to be deposited on the target surface.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for producing an endless flexible seamed belt using templates is disclosed. A first form of the template is a mask template with a template aperture in the form of a puzzle cut pattern to be used in combination with an excimer laser. The template is placed between the excimer laser source and the belt material to be cut. As the excimer laser traverses the width of the belt, the laser forms a puzzle cut pattern on the belt. A second form of the template is a punch and die having patterned edges in the form of a puzzle cut pattern with extremely small nodes and kerfs. The cutting tolerances of the patterned edges make it necessary to fix the punch with respect to the die so that there is no misalignment of the punch and die between cutting operations. This is accomplished by resiliently fixing the punch to the die, rather than having the punch attached to the force generating assembly as in normal punch and die assemblies.