A method, apparatus, and system are provided to monitor and characterize the dynamics of a phase change region (PCR) created during laser welding, specifically keyhole welding, and other material modification processes, using low-coherence interferometry. By directing a measurement beam to multiple locations within and overlapping with the PCR, the system, apparatus, and method are used to determine, in real time, spatial and temporal characteristics of the weld such as keyhole depth, length, width, shape and whether the keyhole is unstable, closes or collapses. This information is important in determining the quality and material properties of a completed finished weld. It can also be used with feedback to modify the material modification process in real time.

The present invention relates to a powder composed of spherical noble-metal particles having a particle size distribution with a d.sub.10 value of ≧10.0 μm and a d.sub.90 value of ≦80.0 μm.

The present invention relates to a device as well as a method for the additive manufacture of components by deposition of material layers by layer-by-layer joining of powder particles to one another and/or to an already produced pre-product or substrate, via selective interaction of the powder particles with a high-energy beam, wherein, for smoothing a surface of the component being produced running crosswise to the deposited material layers in between the deposition of two layers of the component, the complete edge region of the last layer that is applied and that runs along a surface of the component being produced is compacted in a direction of action that has a directional component parallel to the build-up direction of the layers, and/or at least one edge region (19) of a surface of the component (3′) is also compacted.

An optical manufacturing process sensing and status indication system is taught that is able to utilize optical emissions from a manufacturing process to infer the state of the process. In one case, it is able to use these optical emissions to distinguish thermal phenomena on two timescales and to perform feature extraction and classification so that nominal process conditions may be uniquely distinguished from off-nominal process conditions at a given instant in time or over a sequential series of instants in time occurring over the duration of the manufacturing process. In other case, it is able to utilize these optical emissions to derive corresponding spectra and identify features within those spectra so that nominal process conditions may be uniquely distinguished from off-nominal process conditions at a given instant in time or over a sequential series of instants in time occurring over the duration of the manufacturing process.

A layer manufacturing apparatus comprising: (a) a main chamber; (b) one or more energy emission devices; (c) one or more work piece supports; (d) a plurality of material delivery devices; wherein the plurality of material delivery devices are connected to one or more spools that are located external of the main chamber.

A beam adjustment method includes: installing, on an irradiation surface to which an electron beam is radiated, a detection part having a Faraday cup catching electrical charges of the electron beam, and installing, on a side of an electron gun further than the detection part, a shielding plate having opening holes through which the electron beam is passable. The method includes causing, upon performing beam diameter measurement processing, the electron beam to pass through the opening holes, and radiating the electron beam to the Faraday cup. In addition, the method includes radiating, upon performing normal processing, the electron beam to the shielding plate.

A welding head for a welding apparatus, the head comprising an outer face attachable to a welding device such as an electron beam gun or laser, an inner face sealable to a workpiece, and an outer sealing ring and an inner sealing ring situated within the inner face and disposed on either side of an evacuatable region, wherein the inner face has a teardrop-shaped profile. Outer and inner sealing rings can be inflatable or formed from different materials, the outer sealing ring being formed from a material with a Shore hardness of between 50 to 70 and the inner sealing ring being formed from a material with a Shore hardness of 20 to 40. A bridging seal can extend from within the inner sealing ring to the outer sealing ring.

In various embodiments, metallic wires are fabricated by combining one or more powders of substantially spherical metal particles with one or more powders of non-spherical particles within one or more optional metallic tubes. The metal elements within the powders (and the one or more tubes, if present) collectively define a high entropy alloy of five or more metallic elements or a multi-principal element alloy of four or more metallic elements.

An example control component for controlling an engine component includes a housing. The housing defines a cavity configured to receive control circuitry configured to control the engine. The housing includes an exterior layer defining an exterior surface of the housing and an interior polymeric layer defining an interior surface of the housing. The interior polymeric layer is adjacent to and substantially coextensive with the exterior layer. The interior polymeric layer includes an electrically and thermally conductive material. An example technique includes forming the exterior layer and forming the interior polymeric layer.

Methods for the fabrication of metal strain wave gear flexsplines using a specialized metal additive manufacturing technique are provided. The method allows the entire flexspline to be metal printed, including all the components: the output surface with mating features, the thin wall of the cup, and the teeth integral to the flexspline. The flexspline may be used directly upon removal from the building tray.