Abstract: An underwater laser processing apparatus includes an optical unit and a nozzle. The optical unit irradiates a condensed laser beam generated by a YAG laser oscillator to a certain point on a underwater workpiece. The nozzle has a gas exit for supplying a gas to the certain point. In the nozzle, an area surrounding the gas exit extends to the surface of the workpiece. This area keeps the supplied gas between the nozzle and the workpiece to improve the underwater laser process.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling operational weld parameters of a welding-based deposition process includes generating a solid model representing a three-dimensional part on a computer, electronically slicing the solid model into a plurality of electronic two-dimensional layers, identifying a path of material deposition based on the electronic two-dimensional layers, the path comprising a plurality of deposition points, and determining a geometrical factor for each deposition point. The geometrical factor is defined by a ratio of an actual volume of material around each deposition point to a theoretical volume of material around each deposition point. The method further includes automatically adjusting, during material deposition for a respective deposition point, one or more parameters of the welding-based deposition process based on the geometrical factor for the respective deposition point.

Abstract: A method for detection and identification of defects in a weld seam created using a laser beam. According to this method, at least two measurement signals are acquired in real time delivered by optical sensors (C1 to C6) detecting variations in luminous intensity of the plasma formed by the laser beam (14). These signals are then combined by applying a mathematical operation. The combined signal obtained is then compared to a predetermined threshold. Depending on the result of this comparison, a determination is made of the presence or absence of a defect corresponding to the operator used.

Abstract: A method for reducing oxidation of indium seals within a substantially sealed housing is disclosed. The method includes installing a getter within the housing, the getter including a getter material to reduce oxygen and water vapor levels within the housing, reducing oxygen and water vapor levels within the housing relative to ambient air, substantially sealing the housing, and activating the getter within the housing.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other expandable medical device, and a balloon or other device formed thereby, in which at least a portion of a tubular, wrapped sheet of polymeric material is heated with laser radiation to form a fused seam extending along at least a section of the length of the tubular body. In one embodiment, the portion of the sheet heated by laser radiation is less than the entire area of the sheet, so that the fused seam is formed by heating portions of the sheet without heating sections of the sheet spaced apart from the fused seam. In one embodiment, the sheet of polymeric material comprises a polymer having a porous and preferably a node and fibril microstructure, which in one embodiment is selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and expanded ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

Abstract: This optical arm applicable to robots is comprised of: some bent tubular parts (1, 6, 16, 18), a straight tubular length (21) and an outlet part (23), coupled together with the possibility of rotation; also including some means (7) to secure the optical arm to a robot (5). The bent tubular part (1) is mounted with the possibility of rotation on the outlet (2) of a laser generator (3) secured to the third arm (4) of the robot (5). Parts (1, 6, 16 and 18) have a window (28), in each bend, equipped with some inner lugs (28) which a mirror (29) is pressed on to by means of some springs (33) foreseen with a removable part (32).

Abstract: In a welding machine and welding method, for welding cylinder members together about an outside diameter, which prevents the cylinder members from being deformed and corrects the deformation of a portion to be welded, a laser beam, generated by a laser generator, is dispersed in two directions by a spectroscope. The laser beams focus on an outer cylinder member using two optical heads, respectively, in a plane perpendicular to a center axis of outer cylinder member. The optical heads are separated from each other by approximately 90 degrees in the plane. The outer and inner cylinder members are welded to each other in the circular direction using laser beams. Therefore, directions, in which the cylinder members are deformed due to the laser beams, are perpendicular to each other creating uniform radial deformation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for overlapping welding of two coated metal sheets (1, 2) with a beam of high energy density (11), characterized in that it consists in splitting the beam (11) into a first sub-beam (12) passing through both coated metal sheets (1, 2) and forming in said zone a first molten metal bath (18) and into a non-through second sub-beam (13) forming a second molten metal bath (19) whereof the depth is less than the thickness of the upper coated metal sheet (1) and overlapping at least part of the first molten metal bath (18) for promoting evacuation of vapour from the coating material and directing on the second molten metal bath (19) a neutral gas jet with high ejection speed to form at the surface of the second molten metal bath a sink (22).

Abstract: Selection criteria for dyes that predicts efficiency and performance for plastics welding. A first stage quantitative calculation screens dyes that possess an absorption band that can be matched to a laser that is suitable for plastic welding. It also identifies absorption troughs in the visible spectrum and establishes relationships between the relative optical densities of the absorption band and trough. A second stage quantitative calculation screens dyes for their contribution to the transparency of the substrate. By combining these two stages, the usefulness of a candidate dye can be quickly, easily and inexpensively determined.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing outlet nozzles for use in rocket motors are disclosed. The methods include providing an inner wall, positioning an outer wall around the inner wall, positioning spacers in the space between the inner and outer walls, and laser welding between the spacers and at least one of the inner and outer walls in order to form cooling ducts between the spacers and to provide T-shaped joints between the spacers and at least one of the inner and outer walls, the T-shaped joints including a rounded shape within the cooling ducts.

Abstract: A method and device for welding pin contacts and socket contacts to an optical waveguide, the welding device has a contact loading station, a contact transport carriage, a laser welding device, and an electrical control unit. The contact loading station has a socket contact transfer device and a pin contact transfer device. The contact transport carriage has a pin contact holder and a socket contact holder. The contact transport carriage is displaceable between the contact loading station and the laser welding station. The electrical control unit controls the combination and number of socket contacts and pin contacts transferred from the socket contact transfer device to the socket contact holder and from the pin contact transfer device to the pin contact holder without having to re-tool the welding device.

Abstract: A welding system with variable environment system is provided that allows devices to be welded in different gas environments. The preferred welding system uses a controllable gas delivery system that provides different gas mixtures to a welding chamber at different times. Thus, welding in different gas mixtures can be performed in a single welding chamber. This allows the devices to be welded both in environments that promote effective welding and in environments that have specific characteristics desirable for gases that remain in the completed device. Thus the system facilitates the formation of different types of devices in a single welding chamber, and in a single manufacturing line.

Abstract: A powder feed splitter and a machine using a powder feed splitter, to divide a powder flow into two or more streams in a predictable, adjustable, and reliable manner for use in material processing such as welding. A housing encloses an inlet disk having an inlet regulator preferably a disk, having an inlet tube which may be adjustable radially or laterally with respect to the housing. An adjustment mechanism can selectively move the inlet regulator to adjust the powder flow amongst the several powder outlet ports. Funnel-shaped cavities within the housing may have optional gas inlets to enable the introduction of additional gas to the separated powder flow streams. A one-way fit may be present between the interior powder flow splitter and the exterior casing. Smooth interior surfaces through the device prevent turbulence and buildup of powder.

Abstract: A tie rod having a cruciform cross section is provided with steps for fixing sheaths at tips of cruciform arms of the tie rod; the tips of each of sheaths are fitted onto the steps of the tie rod, each of the sheaths having a U-shaped cross section; and each of the sheaths is fixed to the tie rod by performing a laser welding using a YAG laser beam or a CO2 laser beam with the sheath being fitted onto the tie rod to achieve a continuous weld of at least a part of the tie rod in a longitudinal direction thereof. An axial center position of the beam is shifted from an end face position of the step of the tie rod at least toward an axis center of the tie rod.

Abstract: A method of welding titanium, and titanium based alloys, to ferrous metals is described. Welding of titanium, and titanium based alloys, is plagued with poor quality and highly brittle welds, substantially due to formation of Ti—Fe intermetallics in the weld pool. The instant invention provides supplementary filler material to alter the proportions of various elements in the weld pool. Certain fillers, such as nickel or iron, added to the weld pool enable high quality welds to be fabricated utilizing a wide variety of fusion welding techniques, including laser welding, between titanium, or titanium based alloys, and ferrous metals, including but not limited to the welding of nickel-titanium and stainless steel. Filler material may be supplied in various forms, including foil, wire, powders, preformed gaskets, and numerous others. Optionally, the titanium or titanium based alloy may be stress relieved to achieve full recovery of the shape memory strain prior to welding.

Abstract: A weld checking apparatus for a laser welding machine having a welding head triggering laser beam to a welding object includes an auxiliary flash intercepting plate removably mounted on a flexible arm installed on the welding head to intercept a flash generated during a laser welding process, a weld-checking/eye-protecting glass assembly disposed on a center portion of the auxiliary flash intercepting plate to display a weld portion in an enlarged scale during the welding process while intercepting the flash by being opened and closed in synchronization with a laser beam trigger speed of the welding head, and an open/close control part for generating a trigger pulse and an open/close pulse synchronized with the trigger pulse and for providing the open/close pulse to the weld-checking/eye-protecting glass through the electric cable 50 to open and close the weld-checking/eye-protecting glass assembly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for bonding solder balls to bond pads are described. In one embodiment, portions of a plurality of solder balls are placed within a frame and in registered alignment with individual bond pads over a substrate. While the ball portions are within the frame, the balls are exposed. In another embodiment, a frame is provided having a plurality of holes sized to receive individual solder balls. Individual balls are delivered into the holes from over the frame. The balls are placed into registered alignment with a plurality of individual bond pads over a substrate while the balls are in the holes. The balls are bonded with the individual associated bond pads.

Abstract: The invention relates to a welding apparatus comprising a welding unit, a work-table for supporting the workpieces to be welded, and the clamping means for clamping the workpieces to the work-table in the direction towards one another during the welding operation. The welding unit comprises a friction stir welding head and a fusion welding head.

Abstract: A robot controller executes an operating program, calculates a position and posture of a robot, and sends the position and posture information to a personal computer (PC). At the PC side, on the basis of this position and posture information, animation display information of a work cell including the position and posture of the robot is created and then sent to a teaching pendant. In the teaching pendant, the animation display information is received, and an animation image is displayed on a display section. Until the operating program is terminated, this operation is performed so that an operating animation of the robot is displayed on the display section of the teaching pendant.

Abstract: The method makes it possible to form a stator of an electric motor by means of a multiple-slide press (21, 22, 23). The starting point is a bundle consisting of rectilinear segments of sheets obtained by stamping and welded. The stator is formed by means of four successive operations carried out by four groups of slides of a multiple-slide press and corresponding dies. The cylinder formed is subsequently welded along its joining generatrix and is calibrated in a hydraulic press.

Abstract: A laser irradiating body with a laser inlet and a laser outlet is provided, and plural semiconductor lasers to oscillate plural linear laser beams for measuring a welding state are provided. Then, a CCD camera with a band-pass filter therein to pass through only the reflected linear laser beams is provided. The CCD camera takes, as an image, the measured welding state by the reflected linear laser beams in. Moreover, an image processor to process the image of the measured welding state is provided.

Abstract: At least one machine tool, preferably two machine tools (1, 2) is or are provided for the production of workpieces, or for the complete production of complex workparts, which machine tools each have a basic body (3, 4) and machine units (7, 8) movable in the horizontal direction thereon. Each machine unit has a work spindle (13, 14) which is supported displaceably in the axial direction of the spindle in a carrier (11, 12) of crankshaft-like design. The carrier is mounted pivotably and supports each work spindle above a respective transport system (31, 32) for a workpiece or the workparts (37, 38). Machining devices, for example in the form of a tool carrier (44) for turning, drilling and/or milling tools, a laser-welding device (46), a grinding device (47) and a brushing device (48), and also an apparatus for joining, are provided in the functional area of one of these machine tools.

Abstract: The invention describes an apparatus, in particular a laser hybrid welding head (1) for a laser hybrid welding process, in which a laser (4) or laser optics or an optical focussing unit and elements of a welding torch (5) for an arc welding process and/or a feed device for a welding wire as well as a device for generating a cross jet (8) connected by at least an incoming line (9) and an outgoing line (10) to a compressed air supply system, are mounted on at least one mounting element (2). The incoming line (9) and the outgoing line (10) carrying compressed air for the cross jet (8) are disposed between the two components, in particular the laser (4) and laser optics or the optical focussing unit and the elements of the welding torch (5) or feed device for the welding wire (21).

Abstract: A method of controlling a robot (32) includes the steps of selecting an initial configuration from at least one of a first, second, and third sets to position a TCP at a starting point (44) along a path (33) and selecting a final configuration different than the initial configuration to position the TCP at an ending point (46). Next, the TCP moves from the starting point (44) while maintaining the initial configuration, approaches the singularity between a first point (48) and a second point (50), and selects one of the axes in response to reaching the first point (48). The angle for the selected axis is interpolated from the first point (48) to the second point (50). After the interpolation, the angles about the remaining axes are determined and positions the arms in the final configuration when the TCP reaches the second point (50) and moves to the ending point (46) while maintaining the final configuration.

Abstract: A laser welding device for executing stable, highly reliable edge joint welding by laser beam comprises: a laser beam emitting head directed to a layered bonding position on an end surface in an edge of a layered base material; a first set of rollers for being along one plane of the base material; a second set of rollers for being along the other plane opposing the plane; a first member which rotatably supports the rollers and which is coupled with the head; a second member which rotatably supports the rollers and which is coupled with the head; and a pressing means for driving at least one of the first and second members and in a direction in which the gap between the rollers and the rollers is reduced in order to sandwich and press the base material by means of the rollers.

Abstract: In a system for laser welding upper and lower work pieces along a weld interface, the upper work piece being transparent to laser light and having a non-uniformly thick dimension, compensation plates and compliant members are taught that mate or otherwise contact the upper work piece such that a combined thickness of the upper work piece and the compensation plate or compliant member is substantially uniform in a region at least above the weld interface. In this manner, substantially consistent amounts of laser light reach the weld interface. The upper work piece may include positive projections, negative voids, contoured profiles, surface imperfections or other that cause the non-uniformity. In one embodiment, the compensation plate is fashioned together with a compliant member. In another embodiment, the upper and lower work pieces comprise inkjet printhead lids and bodies, respectively.

Abstract: A device for welding a plurality of thermoplastic plastic parts (parts to be joined) forming a hollow body with an opening by a laser, comprising a vacuum holder having a vacuum chamber which communicates with a vacuum pump, is open on one side and, together with the hollow body, forms a closed chamber that can be evacuated. When a vacuum is applied, the vacuum holder holds the hollow body stationary, holds the joined parts together and enables testing of the tightness of the weld.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for using laser energy in an automated bonding machine to effect laser welding of ribbons and other connectors, particularly conductive ribbons in microelectronic circuits. The apparatus and method allow bonding and connection of microelectronic circuits with discrete heating avoiding heat damage to peripheral microelectronic components. The apparatus and method also allow bonding of flexible materials and low-resistance materials, and are less dependant on substrate and terminal stability in comparison to existing bonding methods. The bonding method leads to decreased apparatus wear in comparison to existing bonding methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are a welding device of a fuel tank for vehicles, which welds flanges of upper and lower panels of the fuel tank together by pressing and melting using a laser, and a welding method thereof The welding device includes a feed unit for holding upper and lower panels of the fuel tank provided with flanges formed at edges thereof under the condition that the flanges are stacked, and for transferring the upper and lower panels in a horizontal direction; a pressure unit for pressing the flanges of the upper and lower panels, transferred by the feed unit, at front and rear portions of at front and rear portions, and for guiding the transfer of the upper and lower panels; and a laser beam generator perpendicularly separated from central portions of the flanges pressed by the pressure unit by a designated interval, for irradiating a laser beam to the upper and lower panels so that the flanges of the upper and lower panels are fusion-welded together by using heat generated from the irradiated laser beam.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a method and system for real-time monitoring and controlling the height of a deposit by using image photographing and image processing technology in a laser cladding and laser-aided direct metal manufacturing process. This invention also provides a method of controlling the intensity of laser power, which is one of the most important process variables, regardless of the operational condition of a laser power unit (401). The method and system of this invention controls the height of a deposit (205) by real-time monitoring the position and the height of a melt pool (203) and controlling the process variables using the image photographing and image processing technology in such a laser cladding and laser-aided direct metal manufacturing process based on a laser surface modification technology, such as laser surface alloying and laser cladding, or a laser-aided direct metal manufacturing technology.

Abstract: A system for laser processing a work piece surface with a laser processing beam includes a processing beam delivery source (205) optics (210, 230) for focusing the processing beam at a surface of the work piece, a viewing camera (250) configured coaxially and coincidently focused with the processing beam (207) at beam impinge point (245) on the work piece (100). The system further includes a computer (510) and processor (512) for displaying an image of the work piece (100) and a cursor (600) superimposed thereon on a monitor (560). One or more movable mirrors (320, 325) are provided movably mounted on galvanometers (335, 340) controlled by the processor (512) to direct the processing beam to selected points on the work surface for processing, (e.g. by laser spot welding). The system further includes an input device such as a mouse (520) for positioning a movable cursor (600) on image points of the work piece image and for selecting the image point for laser processing.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of welded tubes is provided. The tube bodies are produced in a press or rounding apparatus and are fed to a welding machine, such as a laser or electron beam type welding machine. The tube is formed when the edges of the tube bodies are welded together. The method includes the transfer of the tube bodies from the press or rounding apparatus to the draw-in of the welding machine. One or more transfers modules, each having a separate drive, are used to convey the tube bodies. The one or more transfer modules, which are operated by a common control arrangement, are controlled so that the intermittently formed tube bodies are presented at the draw-in to the welding machine in as nearly continuous a sequence as possible.

Abstract: The invention provides a welding device (10) using a power laser beam (22), the device (10) being miniaturized, the device (10) being suitable for being moved very close to the surface (52a) of the part (52) to be welded and of reaching welding zones that are difficult to access, but without vapor and particles of molten metal (56) being capable of penetrating into the inside and dirtying the optical components (28, 48, 46). Such a device is remarkable in that it includes a feed (26) of gas under pressure suitable for producing a primary flow of gas (50) leaving via the front opening (20) together with the laser beam (22), and in that it also includes a nozzle (60) connectable to a source of gas under pressure, said nozzle (60) producing a secondary flow of gas (62) sweeping the front opening (20) transversely, thereby deflecting the primary flow of gas (50) laterally.

Abstract: Multiple cutting heads are provided in a single cutting cell whereby vibrations created in one cutting head is isolated from the other cutting head(s). Each cutting head is supported by separate support structures to prevent the transfer of vibration from one cutting head to another. The multi-head laser cell includes a series of support structures that are staggered with respect to each other so that the lasers are isolated from each other. In the preferred embodiment, each laser cutting head has a dynamic pre-programmed operating zone to prevent collisions with other cutting heads. The control system will have the proper communications needed to coordinate motion used to develop the dynamic pre-programmed operating zone. Furthermore, the laser cutting heads preferably have multi-axes motion control; e.g., five axis motion control.

Abstract: A combined YAG laser/arc welding apparatus is disclosed which performs a welding operation with a large depth of fusion and a deep fusion at a high efficiency. The welding apparatus includes an arc electrode which targets a point on a welded member where a laser beam from a YAG laser is focused. While an arc power supply is connected between the arc electrode and the welded member, the welded member is irradiated by the YAG laser to produce plasmoid gasses and metal vapors or a plume which is effective to start an arc from the arc electrode. A combined YAG laser/arc welding operation takes place while keeping the plume within and without a keyhole. Welded surface is covered by a hood, and a shielded gas passed through a commutation metal network surrounds the welded focus to prevent an oxidation and keeps the plume maintained. A filler wire is fed to a molten pool.

Abstract: A patterned sheet having two long sides is wrapped around a mandrel. The mandrel is provided with at least one flat surface. The long sides of the sheet are secured adjacent to the flat surface of the mandrel and points along the long sides of the sheet are connected by laser welding or other connecting means. The laser beam is directed substantially perpendicular to the welding plane of the points to be welded, even if the weld points do not all lie on a single line parallel to the mandrel's longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A laser cutting or welding device, the device having a laser head (10) and a robot (35), wherein the laser head is attached to the robot (35). The laser head (10) has a housing (12), a focal lens (26) disposed within the housing and a light source (18) in optical communication with the focal lens (26). The housing (12) has a nozzle with a tip (90), the tip having an exit port (17). The laser head (10) has means (33) for adjusting a light path of a light beam directed from the light source onto a focal optic to center a focusing beam formed by the focal optic coaxial with the tip. In one aspect hereof, the laser device has a crash avoidance system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser spot welding process for executing a spot weld in two successive steps, namely a first step of preparing the surface state of the material to be welded and a second step of welding as such. The luminous energy (BR) reflected by the weld region of the material is measured in real time during the first step and then processed by a controller circuit (37) connected to a control circuit (30) of the laser source (31). In this way, the characteristics (LM) of the laser beam are adjusted in real time as a function of the measurements effected to allow effective control of the quality of the weld obtained, and in particular of its dimensions.

Abstract: In order to implement lamination welding in which there is little distortion and the bonding strength is high by means of laser beam, a laser welding device comprises: a first laser beam emitting head directed to a layered base material composed of two or more layers in a superimposed direction; a first skirting roller rotatably supported by means of a first supporting member on which the first laser beam emitting head is fixed and provided with a peripheral surface which protrudes more at a base material side than a base material opposing end of the first laser beam emitting head; a second laser beam emitting head directed to the layered base material from the opposite side of the first laser beam emitting head in the superimposed direction; a second skirting roller rotatably supported by means of a second supporting member 14 on which the second laser beam emitting head is fixed and provided with a peripheral surface which protrudes more at a base material side than a base material opposing end of the secon

Abstract: A device for clamping overlapped edges of metal sheets to be joined by laser welding; the clamping device comprises a box-shaped head, a clamping arm pivotally connected to one end of the head, in order to rotate between an open condition, a closed condition in which the overlapped edges of the metal sheets are pressed against each other, and an intermediate condition in which the overlapped edges of the metal sheets are made to be slightly spaced apart for laser welding; the clamping arm is operatively connected to an electric control actuator by a toggle mechanism and intermediate transmission members; the clamping device also comprises counteracting biasing means to rearwardly urging the clamping arm for compensation of clearances existing in the operative connection between the clamping arm and the electric control actuator.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning solid surfaces like Si substrate, disk or magnetic head slider where contaminants, including organic contaminants, especially particles in the micron or sub-micron scale are effectively remove from the solid surfaces. The invention achieves this by generating a strong laser-induced liquid jet and shock wave near the solid surfaces immersed in liquid. The liquid is a solution of water and other solvents to help reduce adhesion force and enhance cleaning efficiency.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for overlapping welding of two coated metal sheets (1, 2) with a beam of high energy density (11), characterized in that it consists in splitting the beam (11) into a first sub-beam (12) passing through both coated metal sheets (1, 2) and forming in said zone a first molten metal bath (18) and into a non-through second sub-beam (13) forming a second molten metal bath (19) whereof the depth is less than the thickness of the upper coated metal sheet (1) and overlapping at least part of the first molten metal bath (18) for promoting evacuation of vapour from the coating material and directing on the second molten metal bath (19) a neutral gas jet with high ejection speed to form at the surface of the second molten metal bath a sink (22).

Abstract: A laser imaging apparatus having a laser source outputting a laser beam and an electronic display device. The electronic display device is positioned downstream from the laser source. The electronic display device is operable to selectively polarize a discrete portion of the laser beam to define a modified portion and an unmodified portion. A polarizing filter is then positioned downstream from the display device so as to prevent passage of either the modified portion or the unmodified portion of the laser beam therethrough so as to define an imaging beam having a specific pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a laser welding system having a travel path to carry a first blank and a second blank. An upstream clamp assembly and a downstream clamp assembly are positioned on the travel path and each of the upstream and downstream clamp assemblies are movable to an open position to allow the first blank to pass through the upstream clamp assembly to a first location within the downstream clamp assembly. A laser welding source is directed at a weld location on the travel path between the upstream and downstream clamp assemblies. At least one locating means is operable to locate the first weld edge adjacent the weld location. A first displacement means displaces the first weld edge against the locating means. The downstream clamp assembly is movable from the open position to a closed clamped position to clamp the first blank with the first weld edge adjacent the weld location. The locating means is operable to be withdrawn from the travel path.

Abstract: A method and device for joining coated metal sheets by laser welding is provided in which the metal sheets (1, 2) are placed one on top of another such that the marginal strip (4) of one metal sheet (2) protrudes over the marginal strip (3) of the other metal sheet (1). The marginal strips (3, 4) are pressed together at least in some areas and are joined by laser welding with a laser beam (14) directed at right angles or at about right angles to the plane of the marginal strips (3, 4). The protruding marginal strip (4) is pushed away from the other marginal strip (3) during the laser welding to form a degassing space (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to laser deposition and more particularly to use of deposition wire (5, 21) in order to create structures or components. The original deposition wire (5, 21) is reconfigured in order to increase its lateral dimension and so provide a greater overlap with a presented beam (3) from a laser (2). The presented beam (3) therefore more consistently melts the presented reconfigured deposition wire (31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81) in order to form the desired structure or component.

Abstract: An automatic handling assembly that can load and unload photonic package components into a laser station. The laser station may include three lasers that weld the package components in a horizontal position. The package components may include a sleeve coupled to an optical fiber and a fiber package. The package may be mounted to a yoke that may “gimbal” about tooling plates. The yoke may include vacuum pulled friction bands that lock and unlock the position of the package. The package tooling may also have an actuator to apply a biasing force to the yoke to offset the affects of gravity. Additionally, the package tooling may have an actuator that can couple and de-couple electrical contacts to the yoke.

Abstract: A method for processing workpieces by means of high-energy radiation, wherein the radiation is focused by a processing optic onto a processing site. The light radiation emanating form the workpiece is received by the same processing optic and is analyzed by a detector. An optical measurement with respect to the surface of the workpiece is performed in a processing area of the workpiece by means of an external source of measuring light, utilizing measuring light reflected from the processing area. The same processing optic is used to focus radiation onto the processing site and to receive radiation emanating from the workpiece at the processing site.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for thermally processing a substrate with scanned laser radiation are disclosed. The apparatus includes a continuous radiation source and an optical system that forms an image on a substrate. The image is scanned relative to the substrate surface so that each point in the process region receives a pulse of radiation sufficient to thermally process the region.

Abstract: A novel and inventive hand held powder-fed laser fusion welding torch providing manual flexibility for laser welding with powder-fed material. The hand held laser includes a body, handle, and nozzle assembly. The nozzle may be shrouded by a cover that is slightly spaced apart from the nozzle. The gap between the two may provide space through which inert gas may flow. Laser light from a remote source shines through the nozzle's central aperture. The nozzle aperture may be circumscribed by powder channel outlets aligned upon a working focal point coincident with the laser beam to treat a workpiece. A proximity sensor may enable selective welding torch operation according to the presence of a workpiece.