The present invention benefits from the determination that pre-selected spectral bandwidths that avoid the spectrum of an electronic transition of a metal/alloy vapor allow for welds substantially free from detritus that may discolor the weld. Accordingly, the present invention provides analytical methods, welding methods and fiber lasers configured to provide high quality metal/alloy welds.

A laser apparatus includes: a first vacuum chamber, wherein machining is performed on a target substrate in the first vacuum chamber; a laser facing the first vacuum chamber; a carrier disposed in the first vacuum chamber, wherein the target substrate is seated on the carrier; a chamber window disposed in one surface of the first vacuum chamber, wherein a laser beam emitted by the laser passes through the chamber window; a first protection window positioned between the carrier and the chamber window; a second vacuum chamber disposed at a first side of the first vacuum chamber; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the first protection window to the second vacuum chamber.

A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include providing a powder bed and directing a shaped laser beam pulse train consisting of one or more pulses and having a flux greater than 20 kW/cm.sup.2 at a defined two dimensional region of the powder bed. This minimizes adverse laser plasma effects during the process of melting and fusing powder within the defined two dimensional region.

A method and arrangement for the texturing of a moving steel strip wherein a texture is applied to a surface of a moving steel strip by ablation by means of a single laser beam or a plurality of laser beams directed at the surface of the moving steel strip and wherein a liquid is supplied on the moving steel strip over a surface area on the moving steel strip that covers the working area of the single laser beam or the plurality of laser beams on the moving steel strip.

A method is described for decontaminating room air by means of a tabletop apparatus (10) (or with dedicated stand) for the processing of metal costume jewelry/goldsmiths or dental prostheses through a LASER beam, wherein a source of UV and/or UV-C radiation irradiates a forced flow (F) of ambient air before it comes out of a casing of the apparatus.

A processing machine for processing a workpiece with a processing beam includes a nozzle changer and a protective enclosure. The nozzle change is for mounting nozzles on or demounting nozzles from a processing head of the processing machine. The nozzle changer has multiple nozzle holders for holding nozzles. The protective enclosure is configured to close off a working space for the processing of the workpiece with the processing beam from a working space surrounding area. The nozzle changer is movable between a nozzle changing position within the protective enclosure and a setup position outside the protective enclosure.

A method for producing a component for storing electrical energy, said component comprising at least one cell stack for storing electrical energy and at least one contact element for making electrical contact with the at least one cell stack, has at least the following steps: a) arranging at least part of the at least one cell stack and the at least one contact element in a defined arrangement relative to one other in, or against a chamber that can be evacuated; b) evacuating at least some of the gas in the chamber; c) connecting the at least one cell stack and the at least one contact element together to form an electrically conductive connection by means of at least one laser beam introduced into the chamber.

A method of monitoring an additive manufacturing process in which one or more energy beams are used to selectively fuse a powder to form a workpiece, in the presence of one or more plumes generated by interaction of the one or more energy beams with the powder. The method includes using at least one sensor to generate at least one signal representative of a trajectory of one or more of the plumes.

A cutting method includes: forming a reformed region in a workpiece; and after forming the reformed region in the workpiece, cutting the workpiece along an intended cut line. In the cutting the workpiece, a dry etching process is performed from a front surface toward a rear surface of the workpiece while the workpiece is fixed on a support member at least under its own weight or by suction, to form a groove from the front surface to reach the rear surface of the workpiece.

A laser processing system capable of reliably determining an abnormality in a jet during laser process. The laser processing system comprises a nozzle including an emission opening configured to emit a jet of an assist gas along an optical axis of a laser beam, the nozzle being configured to form a maximum point of velocity of the jet at a position away from the emission opening; a measuring instrument configured to measure any of the velocity of the jet and a sound generated by the jet impinging on a workpiece; and an abnormality determination section configured to determine whether or not output data of the measuring instrument is different from reference data.