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 method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

System and method of manufacturing high-strength bonded metal sheets for a battery cell are provided. The method comprises providing a stackup comprising a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet. The first and second metal sheets are separated by a first coating layer. The first coating layer comprises nickel-phosphide. The first metal sheet includes a first material of a first melting point and the second metal sheet includes a second material of a second melting point. The first coating layer including a third material of a third melting point. The method further comprises heating the stackup to allow crystallization of nickel in the first coating layer and remove the residual nickel-phosphide defining an enhanced coating layer. The enhanced coating layer comprises crystallized nickel for high-strength solid state bonding of the first and second metal sheets to the enhanced coating layer.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

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 hinge lid container (10) for consumer articles comprises a box (12) and a hinge lid (14) connected to the box along a hinge line and pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position and an open position. The hinge lid comprises a first lid wall (16) and a lid flap (18) depending from the first lid wall along an edge fold line, the lid flap being folded inward towards the inner surface of the first lid wall. The container is at least partially formed from a blank having a thickness (T), the laminar blank defining an edge fold portion of the container connecting the first lid wall and the lid flap. The inner surface of the edge fold portion defines an ablation area (A) having a length in the longitudinal direction of the edge fold portion and a width (W) extending transversely to said length.

An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved chamber designs, multiple chambers, powder handling and re-use systems, and powder characterization methods are disclosed.

Solid-state additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, completely or partially performed by a solid-state manufacturing system, are disclosed. Solid-state deposition processes of different materials for printing 3D parts, coating, joining or repair are included as examples. Subtractive processing steps, such as machining, drilling, surface grooving, surface activation and others are discussed as well. In addition, other processes performed by other means are mentioned in making the final parts.

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 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.