Abstract: In a control device for a laser machining apparatus including a plurality of lasers and a plurality of scanners which respectively scans laser beams outputted from the plurality of lasers, the control device includes: a laser control unit which controls the plurality of lasers, in which the laser control unit includes: a machining program analysis unit which analyzes a machining program, and generates a machining condition command for setting a machining condition of the plurality of lasers, a storage unit which stores machining condition information in which a plurality of the machining conditions and a plurality of the machining condition commands are respectively associated, and a plurality of machining condition reading units which references the machining condition information and reads a machining condition corresponding to a machining condition command analyzed by the machining program analysis unit, and sets the machining condition which was read in a laser of a control target.

Abstract: Described herein are photonic furnaces and methods of using the same to produce metal products from a precursor material.

Abstract: An apparatus for orienting and positioning a workpiece (4) relative to a laser beam (3) of a laser processing machine is proposed. The apparatus is equipped with an apparatus base (5), with a workpiece locating device (6) which receives the workpiece (4) to be machined and with a movement device (7) exhibiting at least three axes which moves the workpiece locating device (6) relative to the apparatus base (5). The movement device (7) is equipped with a rigid body (12) and with a first rotary drive which generates a torque around an axis of rotation B and drives the rigid body (12) to rotate around the axis of rotation B relative to the machine base (5). On the rigid body (12) is arranged a first linear drive which displaces a first carriage (13) on the rigid body (12) along the axis Xw.

Abstract: Described herein are photonic furnaces and methods of using the same to produce metal products from a precursor material.

Abstract: A method of producing a workpiece includes obtaining CAD data representing the workpiece in multiple workpiece layers. The CAD data includes multiple workpiece layer definitions corresponding respectively to the workpiece layers. The method includes selecting a first workpiece layer definition, preparing a powder bed of powder material on a build platform, and producing, based on the selected workpiece layer definition, a workpiece layer on the build platform by controlling a layer tool to selectively melt or sinter the powder material on the build platform. The method includes assessing the produced workpiece layer, including measuring the produced workpiece layer using a measuring head, analyzing the measurements of the produced workpiece layer, and, in response to the analysis indicating that the produced workpiece layer is defective, reprocessing the produced workpiece layer by controlling the layer tool to selectively melt or sinter the powder material on the build platform.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes cold spraying a powder onto a build area to create a densified powder layer. The method can include high speed machining the densified powder layer after cold spraying to create a smooth layer.

Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes a feeding mechanism including at least one feeding roller and winds the electrode sheet around an outer circumferential surface of the feeding roller to feed the electrode sheet in a feeding direction. When an imaginary contact plane surface contacted with a first surface of the electrode sheet on the laser processing points generated on the electrode sheet by a laser irradiation mechanism is determined as a boundary, a region on a side where the electrode sheet is contacted with the imaginary contact plane surface is defined as a first region and a region on an opposite side is defined as a second region. A peripheral edge of an opening portion of the dust collection hood is placed in the first region with respect to the imaginary contact plane surface.

Abstract: A method of processing a workpiece includes supporting the workpiece on a tailstock extending along an axis, thermally processing the workpiece with a processing device, and displacing a portion of the tailstock assembly in response to thermal expansion of the workpiece as a result of processing with the thermal processing device.

Abstract: A marking device, a medium, a container, and a marking method. The marking device includes a first marker including a first optical system having a first focal point, the first marker being configured to concentrate a first light onto a first area of a non-planar portion of a medium to perform marking on the first area, the non-planar portion including a plurality of areas including the first area and a second area, and a second marker including a second optical system having a second focal point. The second marker is configured to concentrate a second light onto the second area to perform the marking on the second area, and the second focal point of the second optical system is different from the first focal point of the first optical system in a direction parallel to a central axis of the first optical system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing processes, apparatuses, software, and systems for the production of at least one desired 3D object. The 3D printer system (e.g., comprising a processing chamber, build module, or an unpacking station) described herein may retain a desired (e.g., inert) atmosphere around the material bed and/or 3D object at multiple 3D printing stages. The 3D printer described herein comprises one or more build modules that may have a controller separate from the controller of the processing chamber. The 3D printer described herein comprises a platform that may be automatically constructed. The invention(s) described herein may allow the 3D printing process to occur for a long time without operator intervention and/or down time.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting an operating condition of an optical element along a propagation path of a power laser beam in a laser processing machine head are based on a first signal of a back-propagating optical radiation at the wavelength of the laser beam; a second signal of a back-propagating optical radiation having a wavelength in the near infrared; a third signal of an optical radiation emitted by the optical element in the infrared in proximity to its surface; a fourth signal which is a function of the time-of-flight of an acoustic wave launched through the volume of the optical element.

Abstract: A machine-vision-assisted welding system comprises welding equipment, a time of Flight (ToF) camera operable to generate a three-dimensional depth map of a welding scene, digital image processing circuitry operable to extract welding information from the 3D depth map, and circuitry operable to control a function of the welding equipment based on the extracted welding information. The welding equipment may comprise, for example, arc welding equipment that forms an arc during a welding operation, and a light source of the ToF camera may emit light whose spectrum comprises a peak that is centered at a first wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is selected such that a power of the peak is at least a threshold amount above a power of light from the arc at the first wavelength.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device (100) for cleaning the optical surface (162) of at least one optical sensor (160) for a motor vehicle. The cleaning device (100) includes a source (110) for emitting a laser beam and means for guiding the laser beam onto at least a part of the optical surface (162) of an optical sensor (160) so as to clean it.

Abstract: A system includes a machine tool having a clamp. The system also includes a processing head configured to be temporarily held by the clamp of the machine tool. The processing head is also configured to deposit one or more media onto a workpiece. The processing head includes a guide configured to direct energy from an energy source onto the workpiece and/or the one or more media. The processing head also includes one or more supplies including one or more reservoirs within the processing head. The one or more reservoirs are configured to receive the one or more media, store the one or more media as the processing head is moved from one location to another location, and provide the one or more media.

Abstract: An optical arrangement converts an input laser beam into a line-like output beam, which propagates along a propagation direction and which has, in a working plane, a line-like beam cross section extending along a line direction. The optical system includes: a reshaping optical unit having an input aperture, through which the input laser beam is radiated, and an elongate output aperture, elongatedly extending along an aperture longitudinal direction, the reshaping optical unit converting the input laser beam radiated through the input aperture into a beam packet exiting through the output aperture; and a homogenization optical unit which converts the beam packet into the line-like output beam, different beam segments of the beam packet being intermixed and superimposed along the line direction. The aperture longitudinal direction extends in a manner rotated about the propagation direction by a non-vanishing angle of rotation with respect to the line direction.

Abstract: A laser beam alignment system includes at least one mirror with a surface pattern configured to receive and reflect a laser beam, at least one detector configured to detect a deflected portion of a laser beam from the mirror, and at least one controller configured to communicate with the at least one mirror and the at least one detector and to control the mirror position on the basis of the deflected portion of the laser beam.

Abstract: A method for producing a coated and printed glass panel, includes a) providing a glass substrate having a metal-containing coating on a first surface and a polymeric protective layer with a thickness d arranged on this metal-containing coating, b) removing the polymeric protective layer in a first region using a carbon dioxide laser, c) removing the metal-containing coating within the first region only in a second region using a solid-state laser such that an edge region is created, in which the metal-containing coating is intact and in which the polymeric protective layer was removed in step b), d) applying a ceramic ink only in the first region, e) heat treating the glass panel at >600° C., wherein the polymeric protective layer is removed on the entire first surface, in the edge region, the metal-containing coating is dissolved by the ceramic ink lying above it, and the ceramic ink is fired.

Abstract: A lens module including a lens barrel and a plurality of lenses having refractive power is provided. The lenses are arranged in the lens barrel from an object side to an image side. The lens barrel has an inner-wall surface and an outer-wall surface opposite to each other, and has an air outlet communicating with outside. The air outlet is located between the inner-wall surface and the outer-wall surface. A first lens of these lenses is a lens closest to the object side. The first lens has an object-side optical surface facing the object side. At least over 95% of the surface area of the object-side optical surface of the first lens is exposed to outside, and a material of the first lens is glass. Furthermore, another lens module is also provided.

Abstract: This present invention comprises a Galilean tele-microscope lens assembly configured to attach to the front of a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope (BIO) either permanently or by means of a clip or other suitable detachable mechanism, and to enhance an image of a patient's ocular fundus produced by a condensing lens hand-held by the examiner, at their arm's length, in front of the patient's eye. The lens assembly of the present invention magnifies the examiner's view of the hand-held condensing lens itself, and thus magnifies the fundus image produced by the hand-held condensing lens, enabling improved appreciation of finer details in an examination. In addition to improving BIO examinations in general, the present invention is especially advantageous for patients who have disabilities, are wheelchair bound, are children, or are patients of “mission” based ophthalmoscopy services provided in developing, “emerging economy” countries where other examination equipment may not be available.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light-emitting element includes condensing a laser beam inside a substrate provided with a semiconductor structure to form modified portions including first and second modified portions, including scanning the substrate along a predetermined planned cleavage line to form the first modified portions on the planned cleavage line inside the substrate and cracks generated from the first modified portions, and then scanning the substrate with a laser beam along a first predetermined imaginary line parallel to the planned cleavage line in a top view and is offset from the planned cleavage line in an in-plane direction of the substrate by a predetermined distance to perform second irradiation to form the second modified portions on the first predetermined imaginary line inside the substrate to facilitate development of the cracks generated from the first modified portions. The method then includes cleaving the substrate starting from the first modified portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting the tilt inclination of a workpiece part that is being cut free from a remaining workpiece using a machine tool during a machining process, and that rests on one or more supports, said method comprising the following steps: determining one or more possible tilt edges about which the workpiece part being cut free might tilt. For at least one potential tilt edge, particularly for each potential tilt edge, determining tilt moments that act on the workpiece part in different states of the machine tool, and on the basis of the determined tilt moments, determining whether the workpiece part would tilt about a tilt edge.

Abstract: A system utilizing an antenna generating an electromagnetic (EM) wave to interact with a solar EM wave to streamline magnetic flux in the polar cusp and to facilitate the flow of solar plasma through the Polar Cusp, resulting in an elevated plasma flux at the exit of the Polar Cusp. The elevated plasma flux intercepts and removes small space debris from Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits (GTO) transiting the LEO altitude regimes.

Abstract: A method for laser keyhole welding of metal alloys is disclosed. The method independently adjusts power in a focused center beam and power in a concentric focused annular beam. At the termination of a weld, the power in the center beam is initially ramped up and then ramped down, while the power in the annular beam is ramped down. Increasing the power in the center beam enables a controlled and prolonged contraction of the keyhole and melt pool, thereby preventing undesirable cracking.

Abstract: A spot welding jig is provided. The spot welding jig presses electrode leads of battery cells to be closely adhered onto a bus bar when spot welding is performed to the electrode leads interposed on the bus bar along a width direction of the electrode leads. The spot welding jig includes a passing portion through which a welding laser passes, and a predetermined number of barriers configured to vertically partition an inner space of the passing portion.

Abstract: A method for producing three-dimensional components by successively solidifying layers of a powder construction material solidified by means of electromagnetic radiation, in particular bundled radiation such as laser radiation or electron radiation, at the locations corresponding to the respective cross-section of the component, in particular SLM or SLS. A device comprising a support device, the height of which can be adjusted within a construction chamber, is provided for supporting the component including a coating device for applying layers of the construction material onto the support device or onto a previously formed layer and comprising an irradiating device for irradiating layers of the construction material in some regions to solidify layers. A surface section to be coated is scanned with respect to the evenness of the section prior to the application of a new layer. In the event of an unevenness exceeding a known tolerance range, the unevenness is removed or leveled out.

Abstract: Controlling a beam cutting device having a cutting tool is disclosed. A workpiece part can be cut out of a workpiece along a cutting contour. A cutting plan for the workpiece having a cutting contour for a workpiece part to be cut out of the workpiece is specified. Subsequently, the relative position of the workpiece and/or of the cutting plan and/or of the workpiece part to be cut out is determined. The relative position of the at least one support point of the workpiece support is determined. Subsequently, at least one risk region on the cutting contour of the workpiece part to be cut out is determined, followed by the defining of at least one starting-cut point and/or one cut-away point for the cutting tool on the cutting contour of the workpiece part to be cut out. A computer-implemented method and a beam cutting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the additive manufacturing of components, which are formed by the direct deposition of a substance, in the form of granules of a metal or non-metal, which passes from a reservoir into a melt bath, produced by the thermal energy of a laser or electron beam, and subsequently crystallizes. The granules enter the melt bath without the intervention of a gas stream, the path and rate of travel of said granules changing while they are in flight under the effect of an electromagnetic field. The granules travel within a chamber, falling into the melt bath from above from a reservoir, from which they are fed at a set speed by the rotation of an adjustable screw feed, and passing through a system of electromagnetic devices, which control the path of the granules by means of electromagnetic fields.

Abstract: A processing state detecting device for detecting a processing state of a workpiece processed by laser processing includes: a sound collecting unit that measures sound while the workpiece is being processed by laser processing; an installation position evaluating unit that determines whether an installation position of the sound collecting unit needs to be changed, on the basis of the sound measured by the sound collecting unit; and an evaluation result informing unit that provides information on a result of evaluation of the installation position evaluating unit.

Abstract: An ornamental device includes: diamonds disposed on a single support element in a specific physical arrangement, all the diamonds in the specific physical arrangement having a blue fluorescent equal to or stronger than strong blue, wherein all the diamonds in the specific physical arrangement shining clear under a visible light, and shining blue under ultraviolet radiation keeping the specific physical arrangement distinguished from a group of diamonds in the specific physical arrangement, the group of diamonds comprising a mixture of a diamond or diamonds having a blue fluorescence equal to or stronger than strong blue and a diamonds or diamonds not having a blue fluorescent equal to or stronger than strong blue.

Abstract: An apparatus including a process chamber accommodating a carrier for receiving a raw material powder. An irradiation device of the apparatus is configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder on the carrier in order to produce a work piece by an additive layer construction method, wherein a transmission element allows the transmission of the electromagnetic or particle radiation into the process chamber. The apparatus further includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet for supplying and discharging gas to and from the process chamber which are configured to generate a protective gas stream for protecting the transmission element from being contaminated by impurities present in the process chamber. The gas inlet includes a gas permeable, porous component forming a gas inlet area.

Abstract: An object cutting method includes a first step of preparing an object including a single crystal material substrate and a functional device layer provided on a first main surface side, a second step of irradiating the object with laser light to form at least one row of modified regions in the substrate and to form a fracture in the object so as to extend between the at least one row of modified regions and a second main surface of the object, and a third step of performing dry etching on the object from the second main surface side to form a groove opening to the second main surface, in the object. In the third step, the at least one row of modified regions is removed to form an uneven region which has an uneven shape and in which single crystal silicon is exposed, in an inner surface of the groove.

Abstract: A method and device for a radially expandable downhole tool for bearing axial loads upon radial expansion into anchoring and sealing engagement with a downhole tubular positioned in a subterranean wellbore. The device may comprise a radially expandable tubular defining an interior passageway and an exterior surface. The device may further comprise an axial load bearing assembly positioned on the exterior surface of the expandable tubular and having an anchoring sub-assembly for engaging the downhole tubular and bearing axial loads placed on the downhole tool, the anchoring sub-assembly having a plurality of radially extending ridges, each ridge having a hardened anchoring surface and corners, for penetrating into the downhole tubular and a plurality of longitudinally extending milled grooves formed in each ridge, and a sealing sub-assembly for, after the radial expansion, engaging the downhole tubular and sealing the annulus defined between the downhole tubular and the radially expandable downhole tool.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for manufacturing decorated-parts of high design-quality and reliability, since the exposed surface of the base coat-layer is not bulged, and thus the color of said coat-layer is distinct. The method for manufacturing decorated-parts of this invention comprises a base coat-layer-forming process, a surface coat-layer-forming process and a laser-decorating process. In the base coat-layer-forming process, a resin-base material of a highly light color at a lightness-level of 70 or more or a clear and colorless resin base-material is formed. In the surface coat-layer forming process, the surface coat-layer of a less-bright color at a lightness-level of 20 or less is formed on the base coat-layer. In the laser-decorating process, the first laser-processed groove penetrating the surface coat-layer and exposing partially the base coat-layer is made by irradiating the infrared laser onto such surface coat-layer, thus providing a fine decoration onto the surface of said decorated-part.

Abstract: Methods for determining the quality of a weld of a workpiece welded by laser-beam welding, wherein at least a partial region of a molten pool and/or of a surrounding area of the molten pool is observed by means of a measuring system during the laser-beam welding and the quality of the weld of the welded workpiece is determined on the basis of the observation result. At least one characteristic value that correlates with molten pool oscillation of the molten pool is observed during the laser-beam welding and a measure of an amplitude of the molten pool oscillation and/or a measure of a frequency of the molten pool oscillation is determined from the observed time curve of the characteristic value. A probability and/or a frequency for the occurrence of hot cracks at the weld of the workpiece is inferred.

Abstract: A laser processing head (100) comprises a first-level nozzle (110) and a second-level nozzle (120) that communicate with each other, wherein the second-level nozzle (120) is arranged downstream of the first-level nozzle (110); an inner diameter of the second-level nozzle (120) gradually decreases in a laser transmission direction, and minimum inner diameter of the first-level nozzle (110) is larger than the inner diameter of a tail end of the second-level nozzle (120). The laser processing head (100) solves the contradiction between high energy density laser and the system reliability through gradual coupling. Also provided are a laser processing system and a laser processing method.

Abstract: A laser reflow apparatus capable of reducing tact time for a single bonding object, and accelerating an overall bonding process for all of a plurality of bonding objects is provided. The laser reflow apparatus comprises a bonding object transfer unit including a stage, a laser emission unit, a beam transmission plate, and a beam transmission plate transfer unit.

Abstract: A laser annealing apparatus includes a laser oscillating structure, an oscillator, a beam expanding telescope, a first power meter, and a second power meter. The laser oscillating structure emits a first laser beam of a first wavelength and first beam cross-section to a substrate in a chamber including an optical window. The oscillator emits a second laser beam, of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, to the substrate. The beam expanding telescope is on an optical path for the second laser beam and expands the second laser beam to a second beam cross-section. The first and second power meters measure energy of the second laser beam and a third laser beam, generated as the second laser beam is reflected by the substrate. The first beam cross-section and the second beam cross-section may be equal.

Abstract: Provided is a laser processing device capable of detecting that a return light of a laser light reflected by a processing object is incident on a laser light source. The laser processing device includes: a laser light source which outputs a laser light for processing; a light source for inspection which outputs a laser light for inspection having a wavelength different from that of the laser light for processing; an optical waveguide in which the laser light for processing and the laser light for inspection are incident from an incident surface, and the laser light for processing and the laser light for inspection are emitted from an emission surface toward a processing object; and a detector which detects a return light of the laser light for inspection reflected by the processing object, incident from the emission surface of the optical waveguide and emitted from the incident surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for pulsed laser deposition including the steps of: providing a target and a substrate facing the target; irradiating a spot on the target with a pulsed laser beam to generate a plasma plume of target material and depositing the plasma plume on the substrate; and smoothing the surface structure of the spot on the target prior to irradiating the spot with a pulsed laser beam.

Abstract: Provided are a laser processing method and a laser processing device which prevent a laser irradiation unit from colliding with an edge of a plate material when the laser irradiation unit returns to a portion just above the plate material from an outer part of the portion just above the plate material. The laser processing method for cutting a plate material by laser irradiation, the method including: a plate material end portion holding process of holding a position of an end portion of the plate material at a predetermined position when a laser irradiation unit is present outside a portion just above the plate material; and a laser irradiation unit moving process in which the laser irradiation unit moves from an outer part of the portion just above the plate material to the portion just above the plate material.

Abstract: Exposure device (6) for an apparatus (1) for the additive production of three-dimensional objects (2), comprising: —at least one energy beam generating device (7), which is configured in order to generate an energy beam (4), —at least one light-guide fibre (8), which is optically couplable or coupled to the energy beam generating device (7) and is configured in order to guide at least one energy beam (4), introduced into it, between an input region (8a) of the light-guide fibre (8) and an output region (8b) of the light-guide fibre (8), the light-guide fibre (8) comprising a plurality of fibre cores (15), at least one energy beam (4) being introducible or introduced into each fibre core (15).

Abstract: A workpiece processing machine includes a separation device for dividing an operating space into a processing region and at least one additional operating region, a laser processing head configured to process the workpiece, and a rotary workpiece changer having a rotatable workpiece support for transporting the workpiece between the processing region and the at least one additional operating region by an opening. The rotatable workpiece support has a protection wall configured to shield the at least one additional operating region with respect to the processing region. The separation device has a protection element movable between a processing position and a transport position and configured to be in abutment with the protection wall in the processing position to close the opening and spaced apart from the protection wall in the transport position. A spacing between the processing position and the transport position is adjustable based on a dimension of the workpiece.

Abstract: A system utilizing an antenna generating an electromagnetic (EM) wave to interact with a solar EM wave to streamline magnetic flux in the polar cusp and to facilitate the flow of solar plasma through the Polar Cusp, resulting in an elevated plasma flux at the exit of the Polar Cusp. The elevated plasma flux intercepts and removes small space debris from Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) and Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits (GTO) transiting the LEO altitude regimes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a stacking arrangement of an optical fiber ribbon in a buffer tube of an optical fiber cable. The stacking arrangement includes optical fiber ribbon stack, first bendable optical fiber ribbon, second bendable optical fiber ribbon, third bendable optical fiber ribbon, fourth bendable optical fiber ribbon and optical fiber ribbons. The optical fiber ribbon stack includes at least four corners. Each optical fiber at the corresponding four corners of the optical fiber ribbon stack is a bend insensitive optical fiber. One or more optical fibers are placed adjacent to each other at the corresponding four corners of the optical fiber ribbon stack.

Abstract: A method for filamentation of a dielectric workpiece has a workpiece with a thickness between 0.5 and 20 mm is provided. The workpiece has boundary surfaces delimiting the workpiece. The thickness of the workpiece varies spatially and/or at least one of the boundary surfaces delimiting the workpiece has at least one curvature with a radius of curvature between 0.1 ?m and 10 m. The dielectric workpiece can have a specially formed edge.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for assembling components to form an assembled structure, using virtual or augmented assembly tooling, in real time, real-time virtual assembly tooling (or RVAT). Structures such as vehicles, aircrafts, or other products are produced from assembling a plurality of component parts together, with virtual assembly tooling of the system, method and devices that provides real-time capability for directing and guiding operations and for generating feedback. The structure is built from the CAD, transforming the CAD to imaging representations whose transformations are generated with one or more component scans, projected on a display.

Abstract: A flexible self-adaptive composite carbon brush-type electromagnetic composite field synchronous laser cladding device, comprising an electromagnetic field synchronous coupling module that processes a part to be processed, a mechanical arm that drives the electromagnetic field synchronous coupling module to move, and a laser that generates laser; the electromagnetic field synchronous coupling module comprises a laser head, an electric field portion and a magnetic field portion; the magnetic field portion comprises two magnetic field generating modules, and the electric field portion comprises two electric field generating modules, the magnetic field portion and the electric field portion both being fixedly erected at the periphery of the laser head by means of a supporting structure.

Abstract: A cleaning system for a vehicle includes a beam optics assembly that emits a laser beam to irradiate a region on a glass article of the vehicle, debris detection circuitry that detects debris accumulated over the region, and control circuitry. The control circuitry calibrates a set of parameters associated with the laser beam emitted from the beam optics assembly based on detection of the debris accumulated over the region on the glass article, controls an exposure level of the laser beam on the debris accumulated based on calibration of the set of parameters associated with the laser beam, wherein the exposure level is controlled based on pulsing the laser beam at a calibrated rate that limits penetration of the laser beam to a depth that is less than a thickness of the glass article, and removes the debris accumulated over the region on the glass article using the laser beam.

Abstract: A method of selecting a scanning sequence of a laser beam in a selective laser solidification process, in which one or more objects are formed layer-by-layer by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on a powder bed and scanning the laser beam over the deposited powder to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layers, includes determining an order in which areas should be scanned by: projecting a debris fallout zone that would be created when solidifying each area based on a gas flow direction of a gas flow passed over the powder bed; determining whether one or more other areas to be solidified fall within the debris fallout zone; and selecting to solidify the one or more other areas that fall within the debris fallout zone before solidifying the area from which the debris fallout zone has been projected.

Abstract: An example laser tool includes a laser head to output a laser beam and a robotic arm that is articulated and that is connected to the laser head. The robotic arm includes segments that are connected by flexible joints to enable movement of the laser head in six degrees of freedom. A control system is configured to control the robotic arm to direct output of the laser beam.