A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.

A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.

A method is provided for joining at least two components of a medical instrument, the at least two components are held so as to form at least one soldering gap between mutually assigned joining areas of the components, a solder material is arranged for filling the at least one soldering gap, and the arrangement of the at least two components and of the solder material is heated to a soldering temperature of the solder material, wherein the solder material is an iron-based solder. A use of an iron-based solder and a medical instrument, in particular a laryngoscope spatula, are also provided.

A method is provided for joining at least two components of a medical instrument, the at least two components are held so as to form at least one soldering gap between mutually assigned joining areas of the components, a solder material is arranged for filling the at least one soldering gap, and the arrangement of the at least two components and of the solder material is heated to a soldering temperature of the solder material, wherein the solder material is an iron-based solder. A use of an iron-based solder and a medical instrument, in particular a laryngoscope spatula, are also provided.

An electron beam installation, which is used for processing powdered material, has a powder container, which can accommodate a powder bed made of the powdered material to be processed. Furthermore, it has an electron beam generator, which is configured to direct an electron beam onto laterally differing locations of the powder bed. To reduce the dispersion of the powdered material during the processing using the electron beam, the electron beam installation has a frit device, which, by applying an AC voltage between at least two electrodes, generates an electromagnetic alternating field, which bonds the powdered material of the powder bed, at least in regions over the powder bed.

A hybrid welding system, comprising a first welding system, wherein the first welding system includes an ultrasonic spot-welding system, and wherein the ultrasonic spot-welding system further includes at least one sonotrode for delivering ultrasonic vibration to a predetermined weld location; and a second welding system, wherein the second welding system includes a resistance spot welding system that functions simultaneously with the ultrasonic spot-welding system, and wherein the resistance spot welding system further includes at least one electrode that is configured to direct electrical current into the predetermined weld location.

A hybrid welding system, comprising a first welding system, wherein the first welding system includes an ultrasonic spot-welding system, and wherein the ultrasonic spot-welding system further includes at least one sonotrode for delivering ultrasonic vibration to a predetermined weld location; and a second welding system, wherein the second welding system includes a resistance spot welding system that functions simultaneously with the ultrasonic spot-welding system, and wherein the resistance spot welding system further includes at least one electrode that is configured to direct electrical current into the predetermined weld location.

After obtaining a rectangular parallelepiped piece in which a first base metal, a weld zone and a second base metal are arranged so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction from a joint steel member, a portion of the weld zone is cut to provide a slit-shaped notch portion in the piece. A first conductive member is arranged above a surface of the piece that includes an edge on one side of the notch portion in the longitudinal direction, a second conductive member is arranged above a surface of the piece that includes an edge on the other side of the notch portion in the longitudinal direction, and the first and second conductive members are fixed to the piece. A gap between the first conductive member and the second conductive member in the longitudinal direction is set to a predetermined space. The first conductive member and the second conductive member are electrically connected to an external power supply, respectively, and a bending load is applied to the piece in a direction such that the notch portion closes. The bending load is removed once contact between the first conductive member and the second conductive member is electrically ascertained, and thereafter a fatigue precrack is formed at a tip of the notch portion to obtain a CTOD test specimen.

After obtaining a rectangular parallelepiped piece in which a first base metal, a weld zone and a second base metal are arranged so as to be aligned in the longitudinal direction from a joint steel member, a portion of the weld zone is cut to provide a slit-shaped notch portion in the piece. A first conductive member is arranged above a surface of the piece that includes an edge on one side of the notch portion in the longitudinal direction, a second conductive member is arranged above a surface of the piece that includes an edge on the other side of the notch portion in the longitudinal direction, and the first and second conductive members are fixed to the piece. A gap between the first conductive member and the second conductive member in the longitudinal direction is set to a predetermined space. The first conductive member and the second conductive member are electrically connected to an external power supply, respectively, and a bending load is applied to the piece in a direction such that the notch portion closes. The bending load is removed once contact between the first conductive member and the second conductive member is electrically ascertained, and thereafter a fatigue precrack is formed at a tip of the notch portion to obtain a CTOD test specimen.

An apparatus for repairing a metal sheet and method of operating the same are provided. The apparatus includes: a base unit including: a frame and an attachment feature on the frame, a cutting unit removably attachable to the base unit to cut out a damaged portion of the metal sheet, and a welding unit removably attachable to the base unit. The cutting unit includes: a cutting arm including a cutting blade, and a motor for operating the cutting arm. The welding unit includes: a fixed platform, a weld movement motor for moving a moveable platform on the fixed platform, and a welding assembly, attached to the moveable platform, to automatically weld a replacement piece to the metal sheet. In operation, the frame is continuously attached to the metal sheet during cutting of the damaged portion and welding of the replacement piece, providing a stable and repeatable frame of reference.