Described herein are examples of weld training systems that show (e.g., transparent and/or translucent) “ghost” images of a welding tool on a display screen of a welding headgear to indicate target positions and/or target orientations of an actual welding tool. In some examples, the weld training systems may additionally “reset” the target tool image to a position closer to the actual welding tool if the target tool image gets too far away. The ability to “reset” the target tool image to a position closer to the actual welding tool may help in minimizing a risk that an operator 106 will overcompensate to try to catch up with the target tool image, which can be detrimental to the weld. Additionally, resetting the target tool image to a position closer the welding tool may allow an operator to better perceive and/or understand differences in orientation and/or other technique parameters.

A three-dimensional structure is formed when layers of a material are deposited onto a substrate and scanned with a high energy beam to at least partially melt each layer of the material. Upon scanning the layers at predetermined locations a tube device having a first tube and a second tube intersected with the first tube is formed.

A three-dimensional structure is formed when layers of a material are deposited onto a substrate and scanned with a high energy beam to at least partially melt each layer of the material. Upon scanning the layers at predetermined locations a tube device having a first tube and a second tube intersected with the first tube is formed.

A multi-tubular beam for a vehicle, such as a vehicle structure or a bumper reinforcement, includes an elongated beam formed with a metal sheet. The metal sheet has a central section and outer sections extending along a length of the metal sheet. The outer sections are disposed in opposing directions from the outer edges of the central section to provide adjacent first and second tubular portions. The central section forms a common center wall between the adjacent first and second tubular portions. A first edge portion of the metal sheet is disposed along and in parallel alignment with the center wall. The first edge portion is attached to the center wall at a first weld joint to form the first tubular portion. The first weld joint includes a weld material that extends through a thickness of the center wall and into a thickness of the first edge portion.

In a modeling apparatus, a stage includes a modeling surface on which a modeled object is formed. A regulation member includes a surface including an adjacent region, the regulation member is arranged with respect to the stage to form a holding region for holding a material between the adjacent region and the stage. An irradiation unit selectively radiates an energy ray to a region of the material via the adjacent region. A first moving mechanism moves the stage and the regulation member relative to each other in a direction along the modeling surface. A second moving mechanism moves the stage and the regulation member relative to each other in a lamination direction of the material. A control mechanism variably controls, based on the number of laminated layers of the material, an irradiation position of the energy ray to the material in the direction along the modeling surface.

In a modeling apparatus, a stage includes a modeling surface on which a modeled object is formed. A regulation member includes a surface including an adjacent region, the regulation member is arranged with respect to the stage to form a holding region for holding a material between the adjacent region and the stage. An irradiation unit selectively radiates an energy ray to a region of the material via the adjacent region. A first moving mechanism moves the stage and the regulation member relative to each other in a direction along the modeling surface. A second moving mechanism moves the stage and the regulation member relative to each other in a lamination direction of the material. A control mechanism variably controls, based on the number of laminated layers of the material, an irradiation position of the energy ray to the material in the direction along the modeling surface.

Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing are disclosed, including (a) providing an apparatus having: a laser; scanner; powder injection system; powder spreading system; dichroic filter; imager-and-processor; and computer; (b) programming the computer with specifications of a sample; (c) using the computer to set initial parameters based on the sample specifications; (d) adjusting a stage to position the sample; (e) focusing and scanning electromagnetic radiation onto the sample while powder is concurrently injected onto the sample in order to deposit a layer; (f) capturing two-dimensional images of the sample and probing the sample to determine whether the deposited layer was manufactured per the specifications; (g) use the computer to adjust the three-dimensional manufacturing parameters based on the determination made in step (f) prior to additively manufacturing a subsequent layer or making repairs; and (h) repeating steps (d), (e), (f), and (g) until the manufacture is complete. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing are disclosed, including (a) providing an apparatus having: a laser; scanner; powder injection system; powder spreading system; dichroic filter; imager-and-processor; and computer; (b) programming the computer with specifications of a sample; (c) using the computer to set initial parameters based on the sample specifications; (d) adjusting a stage to position the sample; (e) focusing and scanning electromagnetic radiation onto the sample while powder is concurrently injected onto the sample in order to deposit a layer; (f) capturing two-dimensional images of the sample and probing the sample to determine whether the deposited layer was manufactured per the specifications; (g) use the computer to adjust the three-dimensional manufacturing parameters based on the determination made in step (f) prior to additively manufacturing a subsequent layer or making repairs; and (h) repeating steps (d), (e), (f), and (g) until the manufacture is complete. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

The present application relates to an apparatus (10) for laser processing, comprising at least two laser sources, which are different from one another and are configured for supplying respective laser beams having wavelengths different from one another, a laser head (20), which can be operated as end tool of a laser machine tool (90) that can be configured for carrying out at least one type of laser processing operation that can be selected from a set of types of laser processing operations, and a set of orientable optical components (16) so as to provide a set of selectable optical paths for directing a laser beam supplied by a laser source of said at least two laser sources, and a control unit (30) coupled to the at least two laser sources, to the set of orientable optical components (16), and to the laser head (20) and configured for controlling the at least two laser sources, the set of orientable optical components (16), and the laser head (20) according to the type of laser processing operation selected from the set of types of laser processing operations, i.e., so as to supply and direct a laser beam associated to the respective type of processing operation onto a region of a work surface (110). The laser head (20) comprises a set of nozzles (40, 42, 44, 46) configured for directing at least one processing material onto the working region (110), which comprises at least one nozzle (40) configured for directing jets of powder of at least one material, preferably powder of metal material (in brief metal powder), as well as comprising at least one of the following: a) a first nozzle (42) configured for directing a metal wire onto the working region, preferably metal wire for laser welding; and b) a second nozzle (46) configured for directing an assist gas onto the working region, preferably an assist gas for laser welding, and wherein the control unit (30) is coupled to the set of nozzles and is configured for controlling at least one nozzle of said set of nozzles (40, 42, 44, 46) according to the type of associated and selected laser processing operation so as to control said at least one nozzle so that it will direct respective processing materials onto the working region (110) simultaneously with direction of the laser beam (L) associated to the type of laser processing operation selected.

The problem of limited throughput in three-dimensional (3D) printing processes is addressed by systems and methods that employ mirrors to receive energy reflected by the melt pool and to redirect such light back to the melt pool, where it may further heat the melt pool. Multiple such passes of reflection from the melt pool and redirection back to the melt pool may substantially increase the efficiency at which the melt pool absorbs the energy, thereby substantially increasing the throughput of the 3D printing process.