Abstract: A device for the laser weld joining of sheet metal strips includes the following elements: a main frame, a laser welding unit including a laser beam generator for welding the sheet metal strips to be joined and a welding head, a clamping jaw unit supported by the frame and used to clamp the sheet metal strips, and a shearing unit for shearing the head and tails of the sheet metal strips to be joined. The shearing unit includes upper blades mounted to a blade holder and lower blades which can move in relation to the upper blades and which are designed to shear a strip, as well as a blade connecting structure fixed to the frame, the above-mentioned welding head being mobile between the blade holder and the lower blades.

Abstract: A substrate is separated from a material layer formed on the substrate without generating cracks in the material layer formed on the substrate. In order to separate the material layer from the substrate at a boundary between the substrate (1) and the material layer (2), pulsed laser light (L) is applied, through the substrate (1), to a workpiece (3) having the material layer (2) formed on the substrate (1), while from moment to moment changing an irradiation region with respect to the workpiece (3), in such a manner that the adjacent irradiation regions overlap each other on the workpiece (3). The region where the pulsed laser light (L) is applied to the work (3) is set to satisfy the relationship of S/0.125, where S (mm2) is the area of the irradiation region, and L (mm) is the circumferential length of the irradiation region. Consequently, the material layer can be reliably separated from the substrate without generating cracks in the material layer formed on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for heat treating a wafer-shaped base material of a solar cell, in particular of a crystalline or polycrystalline silicon solar cell, wherein the device comprises at least one laser light source (4a, 4b).

Abstract: A stress treatment device has an operating unit including a head unit performing peening by irradiating an inside of a hole formed in a structure with laser to form a compressive stress region in the hole; a laser unit having an optical fiber guiding the laser to the head unit; a jetting unit jetting liquid into the hole; and a support part supporting the optical fiber in a manner of allowing the jetted liquid to flow through and being fixed in the head unit.

Abstract: Provided are precipitation hardened high strength nickel based alloy welds that yield improved properties and performance in joining high strength metals. The advantageous weldments include two or more segments of ferrous or non-ferrous components, and fusion welds, friction stir welds, electron beam welds, laser beam welds, or a combination thereof bonding adjacent segments of the components together, wherein the welds comprise a precipitation hardened nickel based alloy weld metal composition including greater than or equal to 1.4 wt % of combined aluminum and titanium based on the total weight of the nickel based alloy weld metal composition. Also provided are methods for forming the welds from the nickel based alloy weld compositions, wherein the precipitation hardening occurs in the as-welded condition. The nickel based welds do not require a separate heat treatment step after welding to produce advantageous strength properties.

Abstract: A method for quality control of a weld bead made using a welding tool. The method collects, by an optical pyrometer having a high frequency acquisition sensor, at least one signal representative of the temperature of a melted portion of the weld bead, and includes a frequency phase for checking that the recurring frequencies are within an acceptable range of reference frequencies, to determine if the weld bead is defective.

Abstract: A laser apparatus for welding is disclosed. The laser apparatus includes: a laser optic head adapted and configured to modify a spot size of a laser beam oscillated by a laser oscillator and to project the laser beam into a joining portion of joining members, wherein the laser optic head is adapted and configured to modify the spot size to selectively perform brazing or welding. A method of selectively brazing or welding according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: providing a laser apparatus of as described herein; and actuating the laser optic head to modify the spot size of the laser beam and project the laser beam into the joining portion of the joining members to selectively perform brazing or welding.

Abstract: Portable apparatus for identifying and mitigating defects in electronic devices disposed on substrates or windows are disclosed herein. Such defects can be visually perceived by the end user. The substrates or windows may include flat panel displays, photovoltaic windows, electrochromic devices, and the like, particularly electrochromic windows.

Abstract: Multiple beamlet laser beam delivery systems and methods may be used in laser machining systems and methods to machine multiple regions on a workpiece simultaneously. One embodiment of a laser machining system and method may be used, for example, to scribe one or more lines in large flat workpieces such as solar panels. In particular, laser machining systems and methods may be used to scribe lines in thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar panels with accuracy, high speed and reduced cost. The multiple beam delivery systems may be movable to scribe multiple lines simultaneously in the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of producing a stimulus electrode for a biological tissue includes irradiating a surface of an electrode with an ultrashort pulse laser to form a plurality of deformations.

Abstract: The present invention concerns itself with a dry, free of toxic chemicals, and thus, environmentally safe, mineral processing technique. It uses ore elements' specific heat differences as the basis for separating valuable minerals from ores. No EPA approval, no environmental pit and no expensive monitoring are required in order to practice the teachings of the present invention. Furthermore, the technique described herein is economically attractive since it is a low cost approach to mineral processing.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for crystallizing thin films with a laser system. The method includes obtaining a thin film comprising a substrate and a target layer that contains nano-scale particles and is deposited on the substrate. The heat conduction between the target layer and the substrate of the thin film is determined based on thermal input from the laser system to identify operating parameters for the laser system that cause crystallization of the nano-scale particles of the target layer in an environment at near room temperature with the substrate remaining at a temperature below the temperature of the target layer. The laser system is then operated with the determined operating parameters to generate a laser beam that is transmitted along an optical path to impinge the target layer. The laser beam is pulsed to create a localized rapid heating and cooling of the target layer.

Abstract: Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, a housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface so as to be visible from the outside of the housing. The surface of the housing is able to be anodized and dyed, and the markings of the surface are able to be bleached markings of dyed anodization.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a member separation apparatus includes a stage and a light source. The stage is configured to mount a workpiece. The workpiece includes a first member and a second member. The first member is transmissive to light in a wavelength region. The wavelength region includes a first wavelength. The second member contacts with the first member. The second member has a higher absorptance for light in the wavelength region than the first member. The light source generates laser light and irradiates the workpiece with the laser light. The laser light contains a component of the first wavelength and a component of a second wavelength. The second wavelength includes the wavelength region different from the first wavelength.

Abstract: A laser machining device 1 comprises a laser light source 10, a spatial light modulator 20, a controller 22, a converging optical system 30, and a shielding member 40. The phase-modulating spatial light modulator 20 inputs a laser beam outputted from the laser light source 10, displays a hologram modulating a phase of the laser beam at each of a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, and outputs the phase-modulated laser beam. The controller 22 causes the spatial light modulator 20 to display a plurality of holograms sequentially, lets the converging optical system 30 converge the laser beam outputted from the spatial light modulator 20 at converging positions having a fixed number of M, selectively places N converging positions out of the M converging positions into a machining region 91, and machines an object to be machined 90.

Abstract: A method of laser hardening comprises irradiating a surface of a component with a laser beam to form a first band of irradiated material, irradiating the surface of the component with the laser beam to form a second band of irradiated material that overlaps the first band of irradiated material, where the first band and the second band have a pitch to width ratio of between about 0.5 and about 0.78.

Abstract: It is desirable for the production of workpieces, which are sometimes produced by a rapid prototyping method, to be further automatable. To this end a device is provided having a laser for generating a laser beam in order to set a material, and a workpiece support which can be exposed directly to the laser. There is also provided an optical instrument for redirecting and deviating the laser beam so that the workpiece support can also be exposed indirectly to the laser. Material can therefore also be cured more easily in undercuts of workpiece blanks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of laser shock peening an aluminum alloy fan airfoil to improve its resistance to failure by notched fatigue. In one example, the airfoil is made from 7255 aluminum alloy. The laser has a power density of at least 10 GW/cm2 (220×109 BTU/hr·in2) and a pulse width of <50 ns to produce a shock peened layer extending a depth of 0.030-0.040 inch (0.8-1.0 mm) beneath the object surface.

Abstract: A substrate cutting apparatus including: a stage to support a substrate; a laser generator to emit a laser beam; a beam oscillator to oscillate the laser beam onto a cutting line of the substrate, to heat the substrate; and a cooling unit to cool the heated substrate.

Abstract: A component is provided and includes a substrate comprising an outer and an inner surface, where the inner surface defines at least one hollow, interior space. The component defines one or more grooves, where each groove extends at least partially along the outer surface of the substrate and has a base and a top. The base is wider than the top, such that each groove comprises a re-entrant shaped groove. One or more access holes are formed through the base of a respective groove, to connect the groove in fluid communication with the respective hollow interior space. Each access hole has an exit diameter D that exceeds the opening width d of the top of the respective groove. The diameter D is an effective diameter based on the area enclosed. The component further includes at least one coating disposed over at least a portion of the surface of the substrate, wherein the groove(s) and the coating together define one or more re-entrant shaped channels for cooling the component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented for obtaining high resolution positional feedback from motion stages 52 in indexing systems 10 without incurring the costs associated with providing high resolution positional feedback from the entire range of motion by combining low resolution/low cost feedback devices 72 with high resolution/high cost feedback devices 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88.

Abstract: A work holder capable of measuring the amount of distortion occurring in a part as the part is machined, processed, treated, or otherwise operated upon and methods of using the same for quality control and process monitoring purposes. Indirect measurement of the distortion occurring in the part eliminates the need to individually strain gauge each part.

Abstract: A selective laser sintering apparatus is adapted contain or receive a build frame and comprises a cap assembly which includes a removable plate assembly having at least one gas inlet formed therein. The removable plate assembly sealingly covers the build frame. The cap assembly further comprises at least one gas line fluidly connectable to the gas inlet via a gas port to deliver inert gas to the interior of the build frame. The plate assembly comprises upper and lower plates defining a spacing therebetween. A seal extends around a periphery of the upper and lower plates and is sandwiched therebetween to enclose the spacing. The lower plate has a plurality of gas inlets formed therein which are in fluid communication with the spacing such that inert gas may be delivered to the build volume while the cap assembly is installed thereupon.

Abstract: A microcontact according to the invention is less than 10 mm in length and composed of a conductive basis material, a base surface treatment layer formed thereon, and an upper surface treatment layer, and includes a contact portion, a terminal portion, and an intermediate portion formed over its entire circumference with exposed oxide surfaces of the base surface treatment layer. The exposed oxide surfaces are formed by irradiating the front and rear surfaces of the contact with laser beams at respective predetermined inclined angles to remove the upper surface treatment layer and simultaneously to oxidize the narrow base surface treatment layer exposed by the removal of the upper surface treatment layer. In this manner, the exposed oxide surfaces can be formed with a high accuracy in a simple manner for stopping solder rise at a predetermined position when the terminal portion of the microcontact is jointed to a substrate by soldering.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method of working material with high-energy radiation is provided, wherein a polymer matrix (1) is irradiated with high-energy radiation, in particular with a laser beam (9), wherein the radiation is focused onto a focal point (11) and the focal point (11) is set such that the focal point (11) lies behind the surface (3) of the polymer matrix (1) facing the radiation, and material removal is brought about at the polymer matrix (1), and consequently a reaction space (13) is created within the polymer matrix (1).

Abstract: A method of imparting deep compressive residual stress to an aerofoil, the method involves determining a stress map for the aerofoil for stress generated by Foreign Object (FOD) impact, a stress map for the aerofoil of high cycle fatigue, a stress map for the aerofoil of low cycle fatigue and determining a combined stress map by combining the stress map of FOD impact, the stress map of high cycle fatigue and the stress map of low cycle fatigue. A zone is then defined on the aerofoil from the combined stress map for receiving the deep residual compressive stress, and compressive residual stress imparted to the defined zone.

Abstract: An object is to provide a method and an apparatus for improving a residual stress in a tubular body, which are enabled to improve the residual stress reliably by clearly defining controlling rage for treatment conditions without depending on an installation state and configuration of the tubular body. When an outer-circumferential surface of a welded portion of a cylindrical tubular body (2) is irradiated with a laser beam that circles around an outer circumference of the tubular body (2), a heating width W in a circumferential direction heated by the laser-beam irradiation and a laser-beam moving speed V in the circumferential direction are set so that a stress in the circumferential direction in an inner surface of the tubular body (2) produced by the heating with the laser beam is at least larger than a yielding stress of a material that the tubular body (2) is made of.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to brazed coated diamond-containing materials and methods of producing brazed coated diamond-containing materials. The method for brazing the coated diamond-containing material may include bringing a braze metal into contact with the refractory metal layer and a substrate; heating at least the braze metal above the melting temperature of the braze metal; and bringing the braze metal into contact with the substrate to form a braze metal layer to join the diamond-containing material, braze metal layer, and substrate together. An advantage of the method may include that the brazing step may be performed in air, under ambient pressure, and without the need for a protective layer.

Abstract: A fluid end for a high pressure pump with improved resistance to fatigue failure is disclosed. Interior surfaces that are prone to fatigue failure are laser peened to resist cracking and other types of failures. A work holder for supporting the fluid end as it is peened is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method producing a common rail excellent in fatigue strength from an inexpensive steel which uses as the material of the common rail a steel for high-strength liquid phase diffusion bonding having good toughness and fatigue strength, which steel contains, in mass %, C: 0.01 to 0.3%, Si: 0.01 to 0.5%, Mn: 0.01 to 3.0%, Cr: 1.0 to 12.0% and Mo: 0.1 to 2.0%, further contains, in mass %, V: 0.01 to 1.0%, B: 0.0003 to 0.01%, Ti: 0.01 to 0.05% and N: 0.001 to 0.01%, has P content limited to 0.03% or less, S content to 0.01% or less and O content to 0.01% or less, further has total content of grain boundary segregated embrittling elements As, Sn, Sb, Pb and Zn limited to 0.015% or less, and a balance of unavoidable impurities and Fe. The steel is used for liquid phase diffusion bonding.

Abstract: In laser engraving apparatus for engraving a gray-scale image on a plastic ID-card, the laser is a modulatable optically pumped semiconductor laser. Focusing optics focus a beam from the laser into a focal spot about 10 micrometers in diameter. The ID-card is mounted on a turntable which is rotated such that the focal spot sweeps over the ID card. The turntable is translated in a direction transverse to the rotation direction and the laser is modulated such that the engraved gray-scale image is formed by a matrix of parallel black lines of various length and spacing.

Abstract: A method of producing an orthopedic implant including the steps of building a flat open model of at least a portion of an implant. The flat open model may be built using a selective laser sinter process. The flat open model preferably includes at least one groove along either a first surface or a second surface of the model. Next a force may be applied to the flat open model at predetermined locations to thereby cause the model to bend and assume a shape similar to a desired result. The now bent model may be resurfaced by either applying additional material such that the bent flat open model assumes the shape of a desired implant or the bent open model may be snap fit to an additional element.

Abstract: A method for machining a transparent material by the non-linear absorption of pulsed laser radiation, in the region of a laser focus, includes the following steps: a laser wavelength of between 300 and 1000 ?m is selected; and laser impulses having a temporally flat beam profile are applied. The method is characterized in that the irradiation intensity is selected from an interval pre-determined for the material to be machined, in which plasma is formed without plasma luminescence. An apparatus for laser treating a transparent material includes structure to set an irradiance and inspect the treatment as being within a defined interval.

Abstract: Provided is a sealing material suitable for laser sealing, which enhances long-term reliability of an OLED display and the like. The sealing material comprises 80 to 99.7 mass % of an inorganic powder containing SnO-containing glass powder and 0.3 to 20 mass % of a pigment and is used for laser sealing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the calibration and use of test glide head gimbal assemblies are disclosed. Calibration is performed by pulse laser adjustment of the flexure mounted to the glide head, while the head is flying above a media test disk having asperities of known dimensions. The calibration process normalizes the fly heights of glide heads used to measure defects on both upper and lower surfaces of disk drive media, allowing upper and lower surfaces to be scanned simultaneously.

Abstract: A set (50) of laser pulses (52) is employed to sever a conductive link (22) in a memory or other IC chip. The duration of the set (50) is preferably shorter than 1,000 ns; and the pulse width of each laser pulse (52) within the set (50) is preferably within a range of about 0.1 ps to 30 ns. The set (50) can be treated as a single “pulse” by conventional laser positioning systems (62) to perform on-the-fly link removal without stopping whenever the laser system (60) fires a set (50) of laser pulses (52) at each link (22). Conventional IR wavelengths or their harmonics can be employed.

Abstract: There is provided an improved laser shock hardening method and apparatus which can eliminate spattering of a liquid and waving of the liquid surface upon laser irradiation, and can stably irradiate a workpiece with a laser beam. Thus, the present invention provides in a laser shock hardening method for carrying out surface processing of a workpiece in contact with a liquid by irradiating through the liquid the surface of the workpiece with a pulsed laser beam intermittently emitted from a laser irradiation device, the improvement comprising: providing a solid transparent to the wavelength of the laser, serving as an entrance window to the surface of the liquid; allowing the liquid to be present in the light path of the laser beam between the solid and the surface of the workpiece; and allowing the laser beam to enter through the solid and irradiating through the liquid the surface of the workpiece with the laser beam, thereby shock-hardening the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a device for separating solder material deposits (12) from a substrate (10), in which a receiving sleeve (19) having a receiving opening (22) is positioned to overlap with a solder material deposit arranged on the substrate in such a manner that an opening edge (21) of the receiving opening is brought into abutment against the substrate in an essentially sealing manner, the solder material deposit is subjected to thermal energy and a sleeve lumen (23) that is defined by the receiving sleeve and that is disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis (30) of the receiving sleeve is subjected to an air flow (28) that is directed to an output device (29) of the receiving sleeve.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object wherein the warping of the base plate is suitably addressed. The method of the present invention comprises: (i) forming a solidified layer by irradiating a predetermined portion of a powder layer on a base plate with a light beam, thereby allowing sintering of the powder of the predetermined portion or melting and subsequent solidification thereof; and (ii) forming another solidified layer by newly forming a powder layer on the resulting solidified layer, and then irradiating another predetermined portion of the new powder layer with the light beam, the steps (i) and (ii) being repeatedly performed; wherein, prior to or upon the manufacturing of the three-dimensional shaped object, the base plate is subjected to a heat treatment, thereby causing the base plate to be warped, and at least a lower surface of the warped base plate is subjected to a flattening process.

Abstract: A method for heating a wafer that has at least one layer to be heated and a sub-layer. The method includes applying at least one light flux pulse to the wafer for heating the at least one layer in a manner such that the absorption coefficient of the flux by the layer is low as long as the temperature of the layer to be heated is in the low temperature range (PBT) but the absorption coefficient increases significantly when the temperature of the layer enters a high temperature range (PHT). Also, a sub-layer is selected such that the absorption coefficient of the applied light flux at the selected wavelength is high in the low temperature range (PBT) and the temperature enters the high temperature range (PHT) when the sub-layer is subjected to the light flux. The application of the light flux achieves improved heating of the wafer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method for accurate, fine and efficient processing of a work piece to be processed and prevention of graphitization of the work piece to be processed, when sintered diamond is processed by a laser beam. The method provides process comprising steps of (a) irradiating outer circumference of a scribing wheel 2 with a laser beam from the side of the wheel, (b) moving the laser beam relative to the wheel 2, (c) forming continuously along the circumferential direction in the required space fine grooves with openings directed radially on a ridge site, (d) irradiating the laser beam onto the site to be processed at a speed of the laser beam relative to the work piece, and (e) forming the work piece into a minute shape within a depth of less than 200 ?m.

Abstract: A laser machining device 1 includes a laser light source 10, a spatial light modulator 20, a controller 22, a converging optical system 30, and a shielding member 40. The phase-modulating spatial light modulator 20 inputs a laser beam outputted from the laser light source 10, displays a hologram modulating a phase of the laser beam at each of a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, and outputs the phase-modulated laser beam. The controller 22 causes the spatial light modulator 20 to display a plurality of holograms sequentially, lets the converging optical system 30 converge the laser beam outputted from the spatial light modulator 20 at converging positions having a fixed number of M, selectively places N converging positions out of the M converging positions into a machining region 91, and machines an object to be machined 90.

Abstract: A method for processing a rubber surface and a sealing member treated with the method. In the first mode, a rubber surface is formed with a large number of small dimples in a regularly dotted pattern by irradiating laser beams from a laser irradiation device. In the second mode, a skin layer of the rubber surface is removed by irradiating laser beams from the laser irradiation device. In the third mode, the first mode and the third mode are combined. A sealing member comprises rubber including a seal lip part for elastically and slidably contacting a counterpart member, wherein a sliding contact surface of the seal lip part contacting the counterpart member is treated with one of the first, the second and the third modes of the method for processing a rubber surface.

Abstract: Methods for the manufacture of electrical components, such as ultrasound transducers, are illustrated and described. In particular, several embodiments of the methods can include patterning electrodes, such as for the connection of an ultrasound transducer to an electrical circuit. The methods also can include depositing metal on surfaces and making an integrated matching layer for an ultrasound transducer. Ultrasound transducers produced by these methods also are illustrated and described.

Abstract: A continuous motion laser shock peening apparatus and method for laser shock peening a workpiece. A laser controller modulates and fires a laser beam from a laser unit. A motion controller is controllably connected to a manipulator and to the laser controller to fire the laser beam based on axis position feedback from a speed control of the motion controller. The laser controller has a standby mode for flashing a laser flash lamp at a flash rate without triggering the laser beam and a firing mode that triggers and fires the laser beam in laser beam pulses. The laser controller includes a synchronizing means for synchronizing a triggering signal provided to the laser interface controller by the computerized motion controller to fire the laser beam pulses and the flash rate substantially at a time when the laser beam pulses are to be generated.

Abstract: A system and method for laser beam welding at least two adjacent superalloy components involves substantially simultaneous formation of a base weld with a first filler metal placed between the components and cap weld with second filler metal formed over the base weld. A shim is inserted between the components, which may optionally be formed with a groove along the joint surface. A filler wire is fed to a location over the given surface or within the optional groove. Two lasers or a laser and coupled beam splitter supply first and second laser beams that are applied at focal points separated by a predetermined distance (e.g., 0.05-1.5 cm). The first laser beam is used to form a base weld with the first filler metal between the components, and the second laser beam is used to form a cap weld with the second filler metal on top of the base weld.

Abstract: To further automate the manufacture of hearing aid component parts that are in part produced with a rapid prototyping method, a laser beam for curing material is generated by a laser, and a workpiece support that can be directly exposed by the laser is provided. The laser beam is deflected by an optic device so that the workpiece support can be indirectly exposed with the laser. Material can thereby be more easily applied in undercuts of workpiece blanks that form the basis of the hearing aid component parts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlled laser deformation. A substrate is provided that is transparent to the laser energy. At least a portion of the substrate is coated with a release layer that absorbs the laser energy. A component to be deformed is attached to the release layer opposed to the substrate. A source of laser energy is directed through the substrate and into a portion of the release layer, which vaporizes the portion of the release layer by absorption of the laser energy, and releases a portion of the component from the substrate. This deforms the portion of the component away from the substrate by the vaporization of the release layer such that at least one edge of the component is no longer in contact with the release layer or substrate, and leaving a second portion of the component still attached to non-vaporized release layer.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes an Electron Impact (“EI”) or a Chemical Ionisation (“CI”) ion source, and the ion source includes a first coating or surface. The first coating or surface is formed of a metallic carbide, a metallic boride, a ceramic or DLC, or an ion-implanted transition metal.

Abstract: There is provided an improved laser shock hardening method and apparatus which can eliminate spattering of a liquid and waving of the liquid surface upon laser irradiation, and can stably irradiate a workpiece with a laser beam. Thus, the present invention provides in a laser shock hardening method for carrying out surface processing of a workpiece in contact with a liquid by irradiating through the liquid the surface of the workpiece with a pulsed laser beam intermittently emitted from a laser irradiation device, the improvement comprising: providing a solid transparent to the wavelength of the laser, serving as an entrance window to the surface of the liquid; allowing the liquid to be present in the light path of the laser beam between the solid and the surface of the workpiece; and allowing the laser beam to enter through the solid and irradiating through the liquid the surface of the workpiece with the laser beam, thereby shock-hardening the surface of the workpiece.