A method for joining two components of a meltable material comprises the steps of providing a first component having a first border region and a second component having a second border region, placing the second component relative to the first component so as to form an overlap between the first border region and the second border region under a gap between the first border region and the second border region, continuously heating opposed sections of the first border region and the second border region at the same time through at least one energy source arranged in the gap at least partially, continuously providing a relative motion of the at least one energy source along the first border region and the second border region in the gap, and continuously pressing already heated sections of the first border region and the second border region onto each other.

A method and an apparatus for collecting a powdered material after a print job in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involve a build platform supporting a powder bed capable of tilting, inverting, and shaking to separate the powder bed substantially from the build platform in a hopper. The powdered material may be collected in a hopper for reuse in later print jobs. The powder collecting process may be automated to increase efficiency of powder bed fusion additive manufacturing.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, systems and/or software to form one or more complex three-dimensional objects. The three-dimensional object may be formed by three-dimensional printing one or more methodologies. The three-dimensional object may comprise an overhang portion and/or cavity ceiling with diminished deformation and/or auxiliary support structures.

A wafer having a first surface, an opposite second surface, and an outer circumferential surface that includes a curved part curved outward in a protruding manner is separated into two wafers. Part of the wafer is removed along the curved part, and a separation origin is formed inside the wafer by positioning the focal point of a laser beam with a wavelength having transmissibility with respect to the wafer inside the wafer and executing irradiation with the laser beam while the focal point and the wafer are relatively moved in such a manner that the focal point is kept inside the wafer. The wafer is separated into two wafers by an external force.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes: an irradiation unit that irradiates a feeding position with a laser beam that melts a build material; a numerical control device that is a control unit that performs control for building a deposit by stacking beads on a substrate; and an arithmetic device that is an arithmetic unit that executes an arithmetic process of computing parameters for the control unit to perform the control unit. The beads, which are two beads stacked on each other, are a first bead and a second bead stacked on the first bead. The first bead is formed earlier than the second bead. The feeding position is a first position in formation of the first bead. The feeding position is a second position in formation of the second bead. On a basis of a width of the first bead and a diameter of the laser beam, the arithmetic unit calculates an interval between the first position and the second position in a set direction that is a direction of the width of the first bead. The control unit performs control for setting the second position to a position shifted from the first position in the set direction by the interval, so as to allow a part of the second bead to protrude from the first bead in the set direction.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for manufacturing transition structures including fiber threads embedded within a metal component. The system may include a supply of base sheet metal. The system may include a conveyor supported on a plurality of rollers and configured to move the base sheet metal in a production direction. The system may include a plurality of stages arranged in the production direction. Each stage may include a channel forming device configured to form a channel in the base sheet metal, a fiber inserting device configured to insert a portion of a fiber material into the channel, and one or more ultrasonic welders configured to consolidate a layer of metal foil over the fiber. The disclosure includes methods of using the system to produce transition structures and reinforced components.

A method and an apparatus pertaining to recycling and reuse of unwanted light in additive manufacturing can multiplex multiple beams of light including at least one or more beams of light from one or more light sources. The multiple beams of light may be reshaped and blended to provide a first beam of light. A spatial polarization pattern may be applied on the first beam of light to provide a second beam of light. Polarization states of the second beam of light may be split to reflect a third beam of light, which may be reshaped into a fourth beam of light. The fourth beam of light may be introduced as one of the multiple beams of light to result in a fifth beam of light.

A structure and method for retaining fastening element solder are introduced. The structure includes a fastening element which has a solderable surface and a fastening portion or a hole portion. One end of the hole portion or the fastening portion has a retaining portion. During a soldering heating process, solder flows into or enters the retaining portion to cool down and solidify. The solidified solder is retained in the retaining portion. The fastening element is firmly coupled to a first object because of coordination between the solderable surface and the retaining portion, and the second object is coupled to or removed from the fastening element because of coordination between the fastening portion and the hole portion, so as to couple together and separate the first and second objects repeatedly and quickly.

A metal or metal alloy including a region with hierarchical micro-scale and nano-scale structure shapes, the surface region is super-hydrophobic and has a spectral reflectance of less than 30% for at least some wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation in the range of 0.1 m to 10 m. Methods for forming the hierarchical micro-scale and nano-scale structure shapes on the metal or metal alloy are also described.

A number of variations may include a product that may include a final part that may include a first part that may include a first face and may define at least one through hole and a second part that may include a second face, at least one stake, and at least one energy director that may be disposed between the first face and the second face wherein the first face and the second face may be abutted against one another and the at least one stake may be passed through the at least one through-hole and the first part and the second part have been ultrasonically staked and ultrasonically welded such that an ultrasonically welded interface may be formed between the first part and the second part.