A method for welding between two metallic plates, including: (a) fitting a solid plate without openings, configured to be transparent at at least one emission wavelength of a laser beam (F) emitted by a laser (L), between the laser (L) and at least one contact zone between the metallic plates to be welded; (a1) inerting of the contact zone via a netural gas, where the neutral gas circulates in channels delimited by the contact zone between the metallic plates and by the solid plate; (a2) exerting pressure on the two metallic plates to apply them against one another in the contact zone to be welded, where the application pressure is exerted by the solid plate directly in contact with one of the two metallic plates to be welded; and (b) emission of a laser beam, through the solid plate, to perform welding of the metallic plates in the contact zone.

The present invention is related to a thermal laser evaporation system (10), the thermal laser evaporation system (10) comprising: a laser light source (30) for providing a thermal laser beam (34) for evaporating one or more materials (22) from a source (20); a thermal laser beam shaping system (40) comprising a collimation lens (42) and a focusing lens (44) for directing the thermal laser beam (34) onto the source (20); a vacuum chamber (12); a vacuum window (14) for conducting the thermal laser beam (34) into the vacuum chamber (12); and an aperture (16) arranged within the vacuum chamber (12) between the vacuum window (14) and the source (20).

Further, the present invention is related to a method of providing a thermal laser beam (34) at a source (20) in order to evaporate one or more materials (22) from the source (20); the method comprising the steps of: providing a thermal laser beam (34); directing the thermal laser beam (34) via a thermal laser beam shaping system (40) comprising a collimation lens (42), a shaping device (60) and a focusing lens (44) into a vacuum chamber (12) comprising a vacuum window (12) for conducting the thermal laser beam (34) into the vacuum chamber (12) and through an aperture (16) arranged within the vacuum chamber (12) at the source (20).

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.

The present invention provides a laser welding process and a holding fixture for holding a first and a second body during a laser welding process. A first body and a second body for welding together along at least one weld line to form a joined component are immobilised in the holding fixture by a back clamp and a front clamp of the fixture. A shielding gas is supplied, from respective plenums formed in the back and front clamps, to back and front sides of the component along the weld line. Laser welding the first and second bodies together along the weld line, the laser weld thus-formed penetrating from the front side to the back side of the component.

An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a processing chamber (100) defining a window (110) for receiving a laser beam and an optical module (10) The optical module is removably-mountable to the processing chamber for delivering the laser beam through the window. The optical module contains optical components for focusing and steering the laser beam and a controlled atmosphere can be maintained within the module.

An additive manufacturing apparatus comprises a processing chamber (100) defining a window (110) for receiving a laser beam and an optical module (10) The optical module is removably-mountable to the processing chamber for delivering the laser beam through the window. The optical module contains optical components for focusing and steering the laser beam and a controlled atmosphere can be maintained within the module.

Systems and methods are provided for generating microscale structures and/or nanoscale structures, surface profiles, and surface chemistries on medical devices. Embodiments disclosed herein utilize exposure of pulsed laser radiation on to a surface of a material by a pulsed laser. The pulsed laser according to embodiments disclosed herein is configured to emit at least one laser pulse toward the surface and thereby modify the profile of the surface in order to selectively promote or inhibit bioactivity and medical functionality of the material. By selectively promoting or inhibiting bioactivity of the material, enhanced biointegration at a cellular level may be achieved. For example, modifying the surface profile and/or surface chemistry of a first substrate material can improve adhesive and/or chemical bonding of the first material to a bioactive second coating material.

Systems and methods are provided for generating microscale structures and/or nanoscale structures, surface profiles, and surface chemistries on medical devices. Embodiments disclosed herein utilize exposure of pulsed laser radiation on to a surface of a material by a pulsed laser. The pulsed laser according to embodiments disclosed herein is configured to emit at least one laser pulse toward the surface and thereby modify the profile of the surface in order to selectively promote or inhibit bioactivity and medical functionality of the material. By selectively promoting or inhibiting bioactivity of the material, enhanced biointegration at a cellular level may be achieved. For example, modifying the surface profile and/or surface chemistry of a first substrate material can improve adhesive and/or chemical bonding of the first material to a bioactive second coating material.

In a laser irradiation apparatus 1 according to one embodiment, each of first and second flotation units 30a, 30b includes a base 31, and a porous plate 32 bonded to an upper surface of the base 31 by an adhesive layer 34, the base 31 includes a rising portion 312 protruding upward at an outer periphery facing at least the gap, and the porous plate 32 includes a cutout portion 321 configured to fit to the rising portion 312, and the adhesive layer 34 is formed along an inner wall of the rising portion 312 having fitted to the cutout portion 321.

In a laser irradiation apparatus 1 according to one embodiment, each of first and second flotation units 30a, 30b includes a base 31, and a porous plate 32 bonded to an upper surface of the base 31 by an adhesive layer 34, the base 31 includes a rising portion 312 protruding upward at an outer periphery facing at least the gap, and the porous plate 32 includes a cutout portion 321 configured to fit to the rising portion 312, and the adhesive layer 34 is formed along an inner wall of the rising portion 312 having fitted to the cutout portion 321.