Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include an operation chamber, a plasma generator having at least one plasma head disposed within the operation chamber and in proximity to a profile formed by cutting a piece of tubing, and a mechanical motion module. The plasma generator generates a plasma treatment and applies the plasma treatment via the at least one plasma head to the profile to activate material on an end surface of the profile, within a lumen of the profile, or a combination thereof. Once the material of the profile is activated by the plasma treatment, the mechanical motion module manipulates the profile to close the lumen of the profile to aseptically seal the profile.

Abstract: A method for forming a protective antioxidative barrier on the furnace electrodes using a chemically altered cooling liquid containing an antioxidant additive. This method can be applied to electrodes used in electric arc furnaces and ladle metallurgy furnaces. The method can involve spraying the cooling liquid onto the electrode, thereby forming the protective antioxidative barrier and reducing the oxidation of the electrode.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an orbital welding head for an orbital welding apparatus for connecting by means of a cable to a welding current source in a welding current source housing, said current source being equipped with a base controller. The orbital welding head has a tube mount and a welding electrode holder rotatably supported opposite the tube mount for mounting a welding electrode, wherein the orbital welding apparatus has a motor, which is configured in order to drive the welding electrode holder and thus rotate it opposite the tube mount, wherein the orbital welding head has a chamber for inert gas, which is configured in order to surround the welding electrode of the orbital welding head during a welding process and to essentially terminate it outwardly. The orbital welding head has an electronic circuit, which has a memory arranged in the orbital welding head. The electronic circuit is configured in order to store one or more electrode load values of the welding electrode.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a faucet including a base and a spout includes providing a first faucet portion defining a first edge extending a distance between the base and the spout, providing a second faucet portion defining a second edge extending the distance, welding, by a laser welding apparatus, the first edge of the first faucet portion to the second edge of the second faucet portion to form a welded joint extending along the distance, and grinding the welded joint to form a faucet body.

Abstract: As may be implemented in accordance with one or more approaches herein, a plurality of metal alloy samples are formed on a surface, in which each sample has a different metal alloy composition relative to the others. Elemental metal powders are provided from hoppers at respective delivery rates and mixed, such that the mixture for each sample is set via the respective delivery rates and is different than the mixture for the other samples.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for preparing a multiple-material variable-rigidity component by efficient collaborative additive manufacturing, relates to the technical field of additive manufacturing. In the disclosure, the method comprises: pretreating a component structure model and dividing the component structure model into a lightweight part with complex pore structures and a solid part that needs to be manufactured rapidly; preparing the lightweight part by a selective laser melting prototyping; performing a surface treatment on the prepared lightweight part to obtain a treated lightweight part; preparing the solid part on the treated lightweight part by a wire arc additive manufacturing, to obtain a component.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a precursor solution of a semiconductor electrothermal film, which comprises component A, component B, and component C. The component A comprises the following components by weight: 2-10 parts of tin tetrachloride pentahydrate, 3-6 parts of stannous chloride and 0.3-1 part of glycerol, also comprises a pH regulator, the pH of the component A is 4.7-6.2; the component B comprises the following components by weight: 5-10 parts of conductivity regulator, the conductivity regulator is selected from a group consisting of antimony trichloride dihydrate, bismuth trioxide, aluminum oxide and thallium dioxide, 0.6-1 part chlorinated aluminum and a mixture thereof, also comprises a pH regulator, the pH of the component B is 4.7-5.0; the component C comprises the following components by weight: 0.5-0.7 parts of tin oxide, 0.8-1.5 parts of bismuth oxide and 15-25 parts of ethanol; also comprises 15-30 parts of distilled water.

Abstract: In the present application, a shaped article W is produced, the shaped article including: a plurality of blades provided around a shaft, with an interval disposed therebetween in the circumferential direction; and curved surface-shaped recesses present in between the blades. This method for producing a shaped article includes: a shaping step, in which welding beads where filler material has been melted and solidified at the peripheral surface are layered on a base material having a circular cross-section of a greater radius than the bottom circle that passes through the lowest part of the recess, thus forming a shaped section that will become a blade; and a cutting step in which part of the surface of the shaped section and the peripheral surface of the base material is cut to form a blade, and the recesses between the blades are also formed.

Abstract: A plasma source assembly for use with a substrate processing chamber is described. The assembly includes a ceramic lower plate with a plurality of apertures formed therein. A method of processing a substrate in a substrate processing chamber including the plasma source assembly is also described.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a T-shaped structure includes depositing one or more layers of weld beads over a portion of a surface of a first component such that the one or more layers of weld beads develop a metallurgical bond with the portion. Also, the method includes placing an end of a second component over the one or more layers of weld beads such that the end develops a metallurgical bond with the one or more layers of weld beads. The one or more layers of weld beads define a fully penetrated weld joint between the end and the portion to form the T-shaped structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing is provided. The method includes irradiating a portion of powder in a powder bed, the irradiation creating an ion channel extending to the powder. The method also includes applying electrical energy to the ion channel, wherein the electrical energy is transmitted through the ion channel to the powder in the powder bed, and energy from the irradiation and the electrical energy each contribute to melting or sintering the portion of the powder in the powder bed.

Abstract: Optical fiber mass splice methods and assemblies are provided. A method may include securing a fiber clamp to a fiber setting fixture, the fiber setting fixture including a fiber alignment block and a backstop. A plurality of fiber grooves may be defined in the fiber alignment block. The method may further include inserting a plurality of optical fibers into the fiber setting fixture such that each of the plurality of optical fibers is disposed in one of the plurality of fiber grooves and contacts the backstop. The method may further include loading, after the inserting step, each of the plurality of optical fibers into the fiber clamp. The method may further include clamping the plurality of optical fibers in the fiber clamp.

Abstract: Optical fiber mass splice methods and assemblies are provided. A method may include securing a fiber clamp to a fiber setting fixture, the fiber setting fixture including a fiber alignment block and a backstop. A plurality of fiber grooves may be defined in the fiber alignment block. The method may further include inserting a plurality of optical fibers into the fiber setting fixture such that each of the plurality of optical fibers is disposed in one of the plurality of fiber grooves and contacts the backstop. The method may further include loading, after the inserting step, each of the plurality of optical fibers into the fiber clamp. The method may further include clamping the plurality of optical fibers in the fiber clamp.

Abstract: A welding cable connector system having a male connector and a female connector. The male connector includes a first conductive body for conveying welding power. The male connector also includes a first sealed passageway disposed coaxially of the first conductive body for conveying shielding gas, and a first Schrader valve configured to stop flow of shielding gas when the male connector is not engaged. The female connector includes a second conductive body for conveying welding power. The female connector also includes a second sealed passageway disposed coaxially of the conductive body for conveying shielding gas, and a second Schrader valve configured to stop flow of shielding gas when the female connector is not engaged. The male and female connectors are mutually engageable to conduct welding power and shielding gas therethrough. The first and second Schrader valves seal the flow of shielding gas when the connectors are not mutually engaged.

Abstract: A plasma generator that detects whether a connector of a head is electrically connected to a power cable. The plasma generator includes the head including the connector with a terminal to supply electricity to electrodes that generate plasma by electrical discharge, and a first terminal and a second terminal that are connected to each other; a power cable to supply electricity to the terminal; a cable to transmit a signal to the first terminal; a first ground cable to ground the second terminal; and a detector to detect a signal current that flows in a path from the cable to the first ground cable in accordance with transmission of the signal.

Abstract: A method for producing a sealing component has a body made of superalloy covered by a coating to be placed in contact with a gas turbine blade tip. Steps are carried out in which: a) the new coating is produced by moulding from an alloy of a cobalt-nickel-chromium-aluminium-yttrium (CoNiCrAlY) type further containing between 0.5 and 5% by mass (wt %) of boron, and b) the superalloy body and the new coating are brazed together in order to obtain the said sealing component.

Abstract: Method for operating at least one apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a powdered build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (4), whereby waste thermal energy (WTE) is generated during operation of the at least one apparatus (1), characterized in that the waste thermal energy (WTE) is at least partly used for generating electrical or mechanical energy (EE, ME) by means of at least one energy converting device (15) and/or the waste thermal energy (WTE) is at least partly used for operating at least one thermal energy consuming device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided herein for measuring 3D apparatus (e.g., manual tool or tool accessory) orientation. Example implementations use an auto-nulling algorithm that incorporates a quaternion-based unscented Kalman filter. Example implementations use a miniature inertial measurement unit endowed with a tri-axis gyro and a tri-axis accelerometer. The auto-nulling algorithm serves as an in-line calibration procedure to compensate for the gyro drift, which has been verified to significantly improve the estimation accuracy in three-dimensions, especially in the heading estimation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of fusion splicing an optical fiber. The method includes the steps of mechanically stripping a coating layer from the optical fiber to form a bare fiber end and inserting the bare fiber end of the optical fiber into a resistive heating element structure to remove residual coating from a cladding layer. The resistive heating element structure shapes a severed end of the coating layer such that the severed end is fully within a cylindrical envelope defined by a non-disturbed portion of the coating layer. The method further includes a step of loading the optical fiber into an alignment groove of a fiber alignment fixture such that the shaped severed end of the optical fiber is in contact with the alignment groove. The method includes a step of fusion splicing the bare fiber end of the optical fiber to a cable fiber.

Abstract: A device for generating an atmospheric plasma beam for treating the surface of a workpiece includes a tubular housing with an axis, an inner electrode within the housing, and a nozzle assembly with a nozzle opening for discharging a plasma beam to be generated in the housing. The direction of the nozzle opening runs at an angle relative to the axis, and the nozzle assembly can be rotated about the axis. By the aforementioned device, disadvantages are at least partly eliminated and uniform treatment of the surface is achieved in that a shield surrounds the nozzle assembly, and the shield is designed to change the intensity of the interaction of the plasma beam to be generated with the surface of the workpiece depending on the rotational angle of the nozzle assembly relative to the axis. Also provided are a system and method for treating the surface of a workpiece.

Abstract: A method for remotely stopping a crack in a component of a gas turbine engine is provided. The method can include inserting an integrated repair interface attached to a cable delivery system within a gas turbine engine; positioning the tip adjacent to a defect defined on a surface on the component; and locally heating the base of the defect. A method is also provided for clamping a crack defined between a first surface and a second surface of a component of a gas turbine engine. The method can include attaching a strap over the crack such that a first end of the strap is attached to the first surface of the component and the second end of the strap is attached to the second surface of the component.

Abstract: An optical processing nozzle that homogeneously supplies a fluid to a processing surface in optical processing. The optical processing nozzle includes a beam path that is arranged so that a beam can pass through the beam path towards a processing surface in order to perform processing using a beam guided from a light source, and a channel structure that is arranged around the beam path and is configured to eject a fluid towards the processing surface. The channel structure includes an inflow port through which the fluid flows, at least two passage holes through which the fluid flowing from the inflow port passes, a channel that guides the fluid from the inflow port to the passage holes, and an ejection port from which the fluid having passed through the at least two passage holes is ejected toward the processing surface.

Abstract: A system (40) for processing a workpiece includes a support surface (88) for supporting a workpiece (44). The system (40) includes a processing tool (92) movable with respect to a processing path. The system (40) includes a sensor carriage (408) movable along a scan axis and having a light source (476, 515, 550, 586) located to emit a light beam at an angle to the scan axis onto a target surface of a workpiece (44), and a camera (484, 522, 558, 594) configured to record location data of the light beam on a target surface of a workpiece (44) as the sensor carriage (408) moves along the scan axis. The system (40) includes a control system for generating a three-dimensional point representation of a workpiece surface from the light beam location data, to control movement of the processing tool (92) based on the three-dimensional point representation of a workpiece (44).

Abstract: A non-transferred plasma arc system, which is provided with a non-transferred plasma torch (1) that is provided with a non-consumable electrode (101) as a negative electrode and an insert chip as a positive electrode, the insert chip being cooled by a circulated coolant (W) and the insert chip releasing a plasma arc onto a workpiece. The plasma arc torch (1) comprises a TIG welding torch (100) that is provided with the non-consumable electrode (101), whereby an arc is generated between the workpiece and said electrode (101), and a torch nozzle (105), which releases a shield gas toward an arc-generated weld pool of the workpiece. The plasma arc torch (1) is provided with an attachment (51) that is detachably attached to the TIG welding torch (100) while surrounding the periphery of the torch nozzle (105) and that functions as the insert chip, whereby a non-transferred plasma arc is inexpensively and easily used.

Abstract: A laser cladding device for applying a coating to a part comprising a laser which can generate laser light, which is adapted to heat the coating and the part, a main body defining a laser light channel adapted to transmit the laser light to the part, a coating channel adapted to transmit the coating to the part, and a vacuum channel and a nozzle having an exit. The nozzle comprises a delivery port at one end of the laser light channel, a coating port at one end of the coating channel, and a vacuum port at one end of the vacuum channel, wherein the vacuum port is positioned generally adjacent the delivery port In operation the vacuum port draws a vacuum, pulling the coating towards the part.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, facilitate creation and use of multi-material three dimensional models. In one aspect, a system includes one or more computer storage media having instructions stored thereon; and one or more data processing apparatus configured to execute the instructions to perform operations including (i) receiving input specifying different material properties of an object to be manufactured, (ii) generating from the input a three dimensional (3D) model of the object using overlapping volume representations of the different material properties of the object, wherein the overlapping volume representations employ different data formats and different resolutions, and (iii) storing the 3D model of the object for use in manufacturing the object.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing process is monitored, in situ, using optical emission spectroscopy to analyze the composition, phase transformation or manufacturing defects. The system or method may include an analysis of contours of the plasma line intensity, or pre-processing of the plasma spectral line including signal-to-noise ratio analysis, baseline removal, line identification, line de-convolution and fitting. Improvements may additionally involve consideration of plasma parameters such as plasma spectral line intensity, line ratio, plasma temperature and electron density using high-resolution optical emission spectroscopy in both visible and ultraviolet regions. Parameters of the plasma may be determined using an intensity ratio of the ions or atoms emission lines, a FWHM of the line profile for electron density estimation, or a Boltzmann plot for plasma temperature estimation. One or more techniques may be used to monitor when there is a lack of deposition.

Abstract: A plasma arc cutting system includes a power supply comprising a multi-pulse transformer and a plurality of semiconductor switches directly connected to a bank of capacitors, and a thermal regulation system connected to the power supply and configured to cool the multi-pulse transformer. The thermal regulation system includes a cold plate in direct contact with the semiconductor switches; a fluid conduit disposed within the cold plate; and a pump connected to the conduit and configured to direct a coolant fluid through the conduit. The power supply has at least one of the following operating requirements: (i) a weight to power ratio of approximately 22.4 pounds per kilowatt; (ii) a volume to power ratio of approximately 1366 cubic inches per kilowatt; (iii) an average semiconductor device case temperature of approximately 100 degrees Centigrade during a cutting operation; (iv) a maximum transformer temperature of about 133 degrees Centigrade during a cutting operation.

Abstract: A microwave plasma apparatus for processing a material includes a plasma chamber, a microwave radiation source, and a waveguide guiding microwave radiation from the microwave radiation source to the plasma chamber. A process gas flows through the plasma chamber and the microwave radiation couples to the process gas to produce a plasma jet. A process material is introduced to the plasma chamber, becomes entrained in the plasma jet, and is thereby transformed to a stream of product material droplets or particles. The product material droplets or particles are substantially more uniform in size, velocity, temperature, and melt state than are droplets or particles produced by prior devices.

Abstract: An electrode includes an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis. A seating end portion includes a first truncated cone. The first truncated cone has a first truncated end and an opposing conical end. A working end portion includes a second truncated cone having a second truncated end. A constant length is defined between the opposing conical end and the second truncated end. The constant length is about 0.875 inch +/?0.001 inch. The elongated body is located between the seating end portion and the working end portion.

Abstract: A system and method to correct for height error during a robotic welding additive manufacturing process. One or both of a welding output current and a wire feed speed are sampled during a robotic welding additive manufacturing process when creating a current weld layer. A plurality of instantaneous contact tip-to-work distances (CTWD's) are determined based on at least one or both of the welding output current and the wire feed speed. An average CTWD is determined based on the plurality of instantaneous CTWD's. A correction factor is generated, based on at least the average CTWD, which is used to compensate for any error in height of the current weld layer.

Abstract: A method for cutting passages in an airfoil using a liquid-jet guided laser beam includes positioning a frustoconical tip of the liquid-jet guided laser at a first X, Y and Z location that is defined with respect to the airfoil and at a first standoff distance of greater than 5 mm and less than 20 mm from an outer surface of the airfoil. The method also includes generating a laser beam confined within a fluid column via the liquid jet guided laser, wherein the laser beam is aimed at the outer surface. The method further includes monitoring for breakthrough of the laser beam through an inner surface of an inner cavity of the airfoil, shutting off the laser beam once breakthrough is detected and repositioning the frustoconical tip at a second X, Y and Z location and at a second standoff distance. A system for cutting a passage in an airfoil is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A plasma apparatus includes a chuck disposed in a process chamber, a gas supply unit supplying a process gas into the process chamber, a plasma generating unit configured to generate plasma over the chuck, a direct current (DC) power generator applying a DC pulse signal to the chuck, and a sensor monitoring a state of the plasma and providing a sensing signal to the DC power generator. Each period of the DC pulse signal includes a negative pulse duration, a positive pulse duration, and a pulse-off duration. If a signal disturbance of the sensing signal occurs in an nth period of the DC pulse signal, the DC power generator changes a magnitude of a positive pulse and/or a length of the positive pulse duration of an n+1th period of the DC pulse signal, where “n” denotes a natural number.

Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.

Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.

Abstract: Water cooling system (1) for a plasma gun (2), method for cooling a plasma gun (2) and method for increasing a service life of a plasma gun (2). The system (1) includes a water cooler structured and arranged to remove heat from cooling water to be supplied to the plasma gun (2), a controller (7) structured and arranged to monitor a gun voltage of the plasma gun (2), and at least one flow valve (8) coupled to and under control of the controller (7) to adjust a flow of the cooling water. When the gun voltage drops below a predetermined value, the controller (7) controls the at least one flow valve (8) to increase the plasma gun temperature and the gun voltage.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a crimp terminal having a crimp portion that allows crimp connection to a conductor part of a coated wire includes forming a tubular body by bringing together side edges of a plate material made of metal composed of a copper alloy having a copper content ratio of greater than or equal to 70%, irradiating a periphery of the sides edges, which are brought together, with laser light from a laser irradiation unit to weld the side edges which are brought together, and setting a power density of the laser light and a sweep rate of the laser light in such a manner that a weld bead formed at the side edge portion after the welding has a width of 80 ?m to 390 ?m.

Abstract: A TIG welding method for a ferrite stainless steel sheet is disclosed, wherein a first shield gas is used wherein the gas is a mixture of argon gas and helium gas, 20 to 90% by volume of helium is included in the mixture, and the flow rate S1 of the first shield gas is set in a range of 0.175 m/sec?S1?1.75 m/sec, and a second shield gas is used wherein the gas is argon gas, and the flow rate S2 of the second shield gas is set in a range of 0.05 m/sec?S2?1.51 m/sec.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surface treatment device with a robust nozzle configuration. The device includes a nozzle for ejecting a primary stream of combustible substance to a gaseous atmosphere in an ejection direction; an ignition unit configured to ignite the primary stream in a point of ignition; and an impermeable shield providing a planar surface that is substantially opposite to the ejection direction and has in front of the nozzle a hole that allows passage of the primary stream. The shield is positioned between the nozzle and the point of ignition of the primary stream. The shield is advantageously dimensioned to allow simultaneous passage of the primary stream ejected from the nozzle and a circumferential secondary stream of gas from the gaseous atmosphere via the hole.

Abstract: An arc torch assembly or sub assembly having improved replacement and centering characteristics, where certain components of the torch head have particular characteristics which improve the operation, use and replaceability of the various components. Other embodiments utilize a thread connection which employs multiple separate and distinct thread paths to secure the threaded connections.

Abstract: A method, including: providing a layer of powder material (156) on a substrate (130); and traversing an energy beam (15) across the layer of powder material to form a cladding layer (10), wherein the cladding layer forms a layer of an airfoil. The traversing step includes: starting a first path (40) and a second path (44) of traversal of the energy beam from a common initiation point (48); forming a portion (60) of a first side wall (18) of the cladding layer and a first rib section (24) by traversing the energy beam along the first path and concurrently forming a portion (62) of a second side wall (16) of the cladding layer by traversing the energy beam along the second path; and creating not more than one initiation point (72, 96, 118) for each rib section (24, 26, 28) in the cladding layer.

Abstract: A method, including: providing a layer of powder material (106) on a substrate (12) having protruding rib material (26); and traversing an energy beam (100) across the layer of powder material to form a cladding layer (10) around and bonded to the protruding rib material, wherein the cladding layer defines a layer of an airfoil skin (94).

Abstract: An arc torch assembly or sub assembly having improved replacement and centering characteristics, where certain components of the torch head have particular characteristics which improve the operation, use and replaceability of the various components.

Abstract: A method and device for processing a gas by forming microwave plasmas of the gas. The gas that is to be processed is set in a two or three co-axial vortex flow inside the device and exposed to a microwave field to form the plasma in the inner co-axial vortex flow, which subsequently is expelled as a plasma afterglow through an outlet of the device.

Abstract: Methods for depositing hardfacing material on portions of drill bits comprise providing a vertically oriented plasma transfer arc torch secured to a positioner having controllable movement in a substantially vertical plane. A rolling cutter is secured to a chuck mounted on an articulated arm of a robot. A surface of a tooth of the rolling cutter is positioned in a substantially perpendicular relationship beneath the torch. The torch is oscillated along a substantially horizontal axis. The rolling cutter is moved with the articulated arm of the robot in a plane beneath the oscillating torch. A hardfacing material is deposited on the tooth of the rolling cutter.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for laser-supported plasma cutting or plasma welding of a workpiece. In one aspect, a method includes producing a plasma beam which extends in an expansion direction between an electrode and a processing location on the workpiece, the plasma beam having, with respect to a center axis of the plasma beam that extends in the expansion direction, an inner central region and an outer edge region, and supplying laser radiation to the outer edge region of the plasma beam. The laser radiation supplied to the outer edge region extends parallel with the center axis of the plasma beam.

Abstract: A plasma system includes a plasma arc torch, a cylindrical tube and an eductor. The plasma arc torch includes a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, a first tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the first end, a second tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the second end, an electrode housing connected to the first end such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, and a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel. The cylindrical tube is attached to the hollow electrode nozzle and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the cylindrical tube having a side inlet and a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical tube. The eductor is attached to the cylindrical tube and aligned with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Plume shield shroud (10) for a plasma gun (30) includes a substantially tubular member (14) comprising an axial length, a plume entry end (11), and a plume exit end (13). The shroud (10) is adapted to be mounted to a plasma gun (30). A method of protecting, confining or shielding of a gas plume of a plasma gun (30) includes mounting (20) a gas plume shroud (10) on the plasma gun (30) such that the shroud (10) is sized and configured to substantially surround at least a portion of the gas plume.

Abstract: A system for transferring electrical energy to thermal energy which comprises two electrodes separated by a distance along the axis joining them and able to create field lines defining a zone of influence when subjected to a potential difference, an electrical power supply device for these electrodes, which is able to provide the potential difference, and a device for triggering an electric arc between these two electrodes. The triggering device comprises a device for emitting a laser pulse, a device for focusing the pulse at N focusing points situated in the zone of influence of the two electrodes, with a peak power density of the pulse per focusing point of greater than 1 GW/cm2, N being determined as a function of the peak power of the pulse and of the distance d which is fixed, so as to form an electrically conducting zone between the two electrodes.

Abstract: The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method related to energizing a welding wire based on a location of an electrode at an edge on a workpiece. An edge detector can be configured to identify an edge on the workpiece during a welding operation and a controller can be configured to mange a temperature of a puddle formed by the electrode by adjusting one or more welding parameters. The welding parameters can be, but are not limited to, an energizing of the welding wire, a wire feed speed, a temperature of a high intensity heat source (e.g.