The present invention provides a welding robot that performs the elaborate weaving movements of skilled technicians and welds along the welding lines formed on the joints of the adjoined steel pipes.

Removal of substrates in a composite substrate is facilitated, and flaking of the composite substrate in an unintended process is prevented. A method for manufacturing a composite substrate includes: forming a first bonding material in a first surface of a first substrate; forming, in the first surface, at least one groove located more inward than a periphery in a plan view of the first substrate; forming the first bonding material along an inner wall of the at least one groove, the first bonding material not filling into space enclosed by the inner wall of the at least one groove; forming a second bonding material on a second surface of a second substrate; and bonding the first bonding material and the second bonding material together in a region except the at least one groove.

Removal of substrates in a composite substrate is facilitated, and flaking of the composite substrate in an unintended process is prevented. A method for manufacturing a composite substrate includes: forming a first bonding material in a first surface of a first substrate; forming, in the first surface, at least one groove located more inward than a periphery in a plan view of the first substrate; forming the first bonding material along an inner wall of the at least one groove, the first bonding material not filling into space enclosed by the inner wall of the at least one groove; forming a second bonding material on a second surface of a second substrate; and bonding the first bonding material and the second bonding material together in a region except the at least one groove.

A method of fabricating an object by additive manufacturing is provided. The method includes irradiating a portion of powder in a powder bed, the irradiation creating an ion channel extending to the powder. The method also includes applying electrical energy to the ion channel, wherein the electrical energy is transmitted through the ion channel to the powder in the powder bed, and energy from the irradiation and the electrical energy each contribute to melting or sintering the portion of the powder in the powder bed.

A machine tool arranged to deliver an energy source through a processing head onto a work-piece, wherein; the machine-tool has a clamping mechanism arranged to temporarily receive the processing-head, or another machining or processing-head, to process a work-piece; the processing-head comprising one or more guiding mechanisms arranged to direct the energy source onto a work-piece and a processing-head docking-manifold arranged to have connected thereto one or more media to be, in use, supplied to the processing-head to facilitate processing of the work-piece; wherein the processing-head docking-manifold allows the one or more media to be supplied to the processing-head when the processing-head is connected to the clamping mechanism; and wherein the machine-tool also comprises at least one mechanism arranged to move a supply docking-manifold into and/or out of connection with the processing-head docking-manifold such that when the two manifolds are connected the or each media is supplied to the processing head.

A composite hard-surface material preparation method and a composite hard-surface material prepared thereby, the preparation method comprising: dispersedly fixing a plurality of cemented carbide sheets (2) to a surface of a metal substrate (1); and surfacing the cemented carbide sheets (2) and the metal substrate (1) with a solder (3) to obtain a composite hard-surface material, the solder (3) comprising nickel-based alloy powder, tungsten carbide particles and boron nitride powder. The solder (3) used in the preparation of the composite hard-surface material comprises nickel-based alloy powder, tungsten carbide particles and boron nitride powder, wherein the nickel-based alloy powder can increase fluidity and corrosion resistance, the tungsten carbide particle can improve hardness, and the boron nitride powder can effectively reduce friction coefficient. The present solder has good fluidity, high hardness and good solderability, using said solder, the obtained composite hard-surface material may enjoy good wear resistance.

A composite hard-surface material preparation method and a composite hard-surface material prepared thereby, the preparation method comprising: dispersedly fixing a plurality of cemented carbide sheets (2) to a surface of a metal substrate (1); and surfacing the cemented carbide sheets (2) and the metal substrate (1) with a solder (3) to obtain a composite hard-surface material, the solder (3) comprising nickel-based alloy powder, tungsten carbide particles and boron nitride powder. The solder (3) used in the preparation of the composite hard-surface material comprises nickel-based alloy powder, tungsten carbide particles and boron nitride powder, wherein the nickel-based alloy powder can increase fluidity and corrosion resistance, the tungsten carbide particle can improve hardness, and the boron nitride powder can effectively reduce friction coefficient. The present solder has good fluidity, high hardness and good solderability, using said solder, the obtained composite hard-surface material may enjoy good wear resistance.

Methods, devices and systems for laser-supported plasma cutting or plasma welding of a workpiece. In one aspect, a method includes producing a plasma beam which extends in an expansion direction between an electrode and a processing location on the workpiece, the plasma beam having, with respect to a center axis of the plasma beam that extends in the expansion direction, an inner central region and an outer edge region, and supplying laser radiation to the outer edge region of the plasma beam. The laser radiation supplied to the outer edge region extends parallel with the center axis of the plasma beam.

Methods, devices and systems for laser-supported plasma cutting or plasma welding of a workpiece. In one aspect, a method includes producing a plasma beam which extends in an expansion direction between an electrode and a processing location on the workpiece, the plasma beam having, with respect to a center axis of the plasma beam that extends in the expansion direction, an inner central region and an outer edge region, and supplying laser radiation to the outer edge region of the plasma beam. The laser radiation supplied to the outer edge region extends parallel with the center axis of the plasma beam.

An adapter for a plasma arc torch comprising a torch body is provided. The adapter includes a body defining a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end and at least one protruding portion extending from the proximal end of the body. The at least one protruding portion is configured to be inserted into a cavity of the torch body to physically engage a switch inside of the cavity. The engagement of the switch is adapted to indicate installation of a consumable component in the plasma arc torch.