A solar cell assembly (200) is presented. The solar cell assembly includes one or more solar cell units (21 1) coupled in series. The solar cell unit includes a first solar cell series (221) and a second solar cell series (222) connected in parallel. The first and second solar cell series include a plurality of cells (202) connecting in series respectively. The solar cell assembly also includes a by-pass diode (201) coupled to each solar cell unit and shared between the first and second solar cell series in each solar cell unit.

A method of manufacturing a punch, such as a socket punch, using wire EDM with at least six steps. The method involves forming a blank, holding the blank with an adapter, machining grooves in the blank, manufacturing a side relief of a working portion using wire EDM, milling the working portion to a final size, and forming a cone point on the end of the working portion. The method allows the punch to be manufactured more quickly and from a CAD model, therefore removing the need for over-specialized equipment and improving manufacturing times.

A method of sampling a multi-layered material and a micro-sampling tool are described. The sampling method includes penetrating a top surface of a material in a component of interest with a micro-cutting tool to a predetermined depth sufficient to include each layer of the multi-layered material and a portion of the base, without cutting through the full depth of the base, under-cutting from the depth of penetration through the base to define a micro-sample of the multi-layered material, and removing the micro-sample with each layer of the multi-layered material intact. The micro-sampler includes a cutting tool calibrated to cut to a depth no greater than 2 mm, and in some aspects, no greater than 200 microns into a multi-layered material, the material having a top surface and a metallic or ceramic base and a container for removing and storing a micro-sample cut from the material with each layer of the multi-layered material and a portion of the base intact.

An additive manufacturing support device includes reading circuitry that reads shaped article data that is data indicating the three-dimensional shape of a shaped article, first generating circuitry that generates primary data that is data indicating the three-dimensional shape of a primary separated portion provided in a region where a cutting part of a cutting apparatus passes between the plate and the shaped article, and second generating circuitry that generates, based on a machining allowance between the cutting part and an object to be cut in a process in which the cutting part passes between the plate and the shaped article, secondary data for reducing change in the machining allowance.

A dielectric working fluid centralized management system is equipped with a dielectric working fluid adjustment apparatus for adjusting the fluid quality of a dielectric working fluid of a plurality of wire electrical discharge machines, a dielectric working fluid delivery and reception control member for controlling delivery and reception of the dielectric working fluid between a plurality of dielectric working fluid storage tanks disposed corresponding respectively to the plurality of wire electrical discharge machines, and in which the dielectric working fluid is stored, and the dielectric working fluid adjustment apparatus, and a dielectric working fluid quality controller, which receives dielectric working fluid information from the plurality of wire electrical discharge machines and controls the dielectric working fluid delivery and reception control member, or both the dielectric working fluid delivery and reception control member and the dielectric working fluid adjustment apparatus.

A dielectric working fluid centralized management system is equipped with a dielectric working fluid adjustment apparatus for adjusting the fluid quality of a dielectric working fluid of a plurality of wire electrical discharge machines, a dielectric working fluid delivery and reception control member for controlling delivery and reception of the dielectric working fluid between a plurality of dielectric working fluid storage tanks disposed corresponding respectively to the plurality of wire electrical discharge machines, and in which the dielectric working fluid is stored, and the dielectric working fluid adjustment apparatus, and a dielectric working fluid quality controller, which receives dielectric working fluid information from the plurality of wire electrical discharge machines and controls the dielectric working fluid delivery and reception control member, or both the dielectric working fluid delivery and reception control member and the dielectric working fluid adjustment apparatus.

A method for using a build plate including a reusable supporting platform for additive manufacturing of a component is disclosed. The method may include additive manufacturing the reusable supporting platform on a top surface of a base of the build plate, and additive manufacturing a first component on the second surface of the reusable supporting platform. The method may also include separating the first component from the build plate at the second surface of the reusable supporting platform, thereby exposing a new surface of the body of the reusable supporting platform. Additionally, the method may include additive manufacturing at least a second component on the new surface of the reusable supporting platform. The reusable supporting platform may include a body including a first surface coupled to the top surface of the base of the build plate, and a second surface configured to support a component to be formed by additive manufacturing and for separation of the component from the build plate.

A method and device for removing an electromagnetic core, the method including: using an electromagnet to magnetize or demagnetize a metallic upper nozzle when a magneto-conductive workpiece is cut off in a WEDM manner; attracting a core capable of being completely cut off and separated in the workpiece; utilizing the metallic upper nozzle to detect whether attracted; if the core is attracted, moving the core to a target area; demagnetizing and dropping the core in a trash area. The device is applied to a WEDM machine; after the metallic magneto-conductive upper nozzle is magnetized by the electromagnet, the upper nozzle is used to attract the magneto-conductive core; a metallic water spray cover is utilized to detect whether the core is attracted; the core is moved to the target area by a motion system of the WEDM machine, and dropped in a trash device after the upper nozzle is demagnetized.

A wire electric discharge machine for machining a workpiece by causing a discharge between a wire electrode delivered from a wire bobbin and the workpiece. The wire electric discharge machine includes: a remaining length calculation unit that calculates a remaining length of the wire electrode based on electrode winding coefficients, bobbin draw-out radius correlation information, and a spool diameter of the wire bobbin. The electrode winding coefficients depend on a winding density of the wire electrode, an inner width of the wire bobbin, a wire diameter of the electrode wire, and a winding tension of the wire electrode. The bobbin draw-out radius correlation information is correlated with a bobbin draw-out radius that is a distance between a position at which the wire electrode wound around the wire bobbin is separated from the wire bobbin and a central axis of rotation of the wire bobbin.

A wire electrical discharge machine for performing electrical discharge machining on a workpiece by applying voltage across an electrode gap between a wire electrode stretched between an upper nozzle and a lower nozzle and the workpiece to generate electrical discharges, includes a lifting mechanism configured to move the workpiece in the travelling direction of the wire electrode.