An additive manufacturing apparatus forms layers with a material that is molten to produce a formed object. The additive manufacturing apparatus includes a CMT power supply that supplies as a power supply current to heat a wire that is the material fed to a workpiece, to the material; a laser oscillator that produces as a beam source a laser beam that is a beam with which the workpiece is irradiated; and a head drive unit that shifts as a drive unit a feed position for the material on the workpiece and an irradiation position for the beam on the workpiece. The additive manufacturing apparatus shifts the feed position and the irradiation position, with the irradiation position leading in a moving path for the feed position in spaced relation to the feed position.

Methods and systems for laser cutting of components are disclosed herein. Examples are specifically suited for laser cutting relatively large components of e.g. a vehicle framework such as a unitary side panel of a vehicle door. Multiple robots may perform laser cutting operations substantially simultaneously.

Methods and systems for laser cutting of components are disclosed herein. Examples are specifically suited for laser cutting relatively large components of e.g. a vehicle framework such as a unitary side panel of a vehicle door. Multiple robots may perform laser cutting operations substantially simultaneously.

A stamping strip manufacturing system comprises a stamping machine forming terminals in a strip by stamping. A supply reel around which a strip to be stamped is wound supplies the strip to be stamped to the stamping machine, and a recovery reel around which the stamped strip is wound recovers the stamped strip. A strip cutting and welding device of the system cuts off an unqualified strip segment of the strip having an unqualified terminal and welds two cut ends of the cut strip to each other.

In a method of laser welding, a solid metal component is placed in contact with a porous metal component at an interface region, a laser beam is directed onto the solid metal component to cause heating and melting of one or more portions of the solid metal component in the interface region, and the melted metal portions flow into interstices in the porous metal component and then solidify by cooling such that portions of the porous metal component adjacent the interstices are integrated into the metal of the solid metal component thereby bonding the solid metal component and the porous metal component.

In a method of laser welding, a solid metal component is placed in contact with a porous metal component at an interface region, a laser beam is directed onto the solid metal component to cause heating and melting of one or more portions of the solid metal component in the interface region, and the melted metal portions flow into interstices in the porous metal component and then solidify by cooling such that portions of the porous metal component adjacent the interstices are integrated into the metal of the solid metal component thereby bonding the solid metal component and the porous metal component.

A device for performing a method for producing a lamination pack, wherein in the method laminations are cut from an electric strip or sheet; the laminations are placed on top of each other to form a lamination stack; the laminations are connected by material fusion to each other by: locally plasticizing a material of the laminations in an edge region of the laminations by generating friction heat by a tool; mixing the locally plasticized material, at least of the laminations neighboring each other, with the tool; and allowing the plasticized material to cool and fuse the laminations in the edge region to form the lamination pack. The device has a punch press and/or a receptacle for one or a plurality of lamination stacks. The device further has a welding tool that is rotatably driven about an axis of the welding tool and moveable transverse to the axis of rotation.

A device for performing a method for producing a lamination pack, wherein in the method laminations are cut from an electric strip or sheet; the laminations are placed on top of each other to form a lamination stack; the laminations are connected by material fusion to each other by: locally plasticizing a material of the laminations in an edge region of the laminations by generating friction heat by a tool; mixing the locally plasticized material, at least of the laminations neighboring each other, with the tool; and allowing the plasticized material to cool and fuse the laminations in the edge region to form the lamination pack. The device has a punch press and/or a receptacle for one or a plurality of lamination stacks. The device further has a welding tool that is rotatably driven about an axis of the welding tool and moveable transverse to the axis of rotation.

In certain embodiments, inductive heating is added to a metal working process, such as a welding process, by an induction heating head. The induction heating head may be adapted specifically for this purpose, and may include one or more coils to direct and place the inductive energy, protective structures, and so forth. Productivity of a welding process may be improved by the application of heat from the induction heating head. The heating is in addition to heat from a welding arc, and may facilitate application of welding wire electrode materials into narrow grooves and gaps, as well as make the processes more amenable to the use of certain compositions of welding wire, shielding gasses, flux materials, and so forth. In addition, distortion and stresses are reduced by the application of the induction heating energy in addition to the welding arc source.

In certain embodiments, inductive heating is added to a metal working process, such as a welding process, by an induction heating head. The induction heating head may be adapted specifically for this purpose, and may include one or more coils to direct and place the inductive energy, protective structures, and so forth. Productivity of a welding process may be improved by the application of heat from the induction heating head. The heating is in addition to heat from a welding arc, and may facilitate application of welding wire electrode materials into narrow grooves and gaps, as well as make the processes more amenable to the use of certain compositions of welding wire, shielding gasses, flux materials, and so forth. In addition, distortion and stresses are reduced by the application of the induction heating energy in addition to the welding arc source.