A method for preparing a precoated sheet is provided. The method includes providing a precoated sheet having a metallic substrate with a precoating on at least one of its faces and removing through laser ablation at least a portion of the precoating on the at least one face of the precoated sheet in a removal zone. The ablation step is carried out in an installation. The installation includes at least one protective element having a protective surface. During the ablation step, the protective surface contacts the precoated sheet in a contact area in register with the laser beam as the laser beam removes the portion of the precoating. A plane tangent to the protective surface at the contact area forms a dihedral angle with the plane of the face of the precoated sheet. This angle is strictly smaller than 90.

An automated system for manipulating a workpiece includes a machining device, a locating device configured to determine a position of a workpiece, and a positioning system operatively connected to the machining device and being configured to adjust a position of the machining device to align a centerline of the machining device with a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, based upon the determined position of the workpiece. The machining device includes a stabilizing mechanism to engage the workpiece to maintain the workpiece in the determined position, and a cutting element for performing a machining operation on the workpiece.

An automated system for manipulating a workpiece includes a machining device, a locating device configured to determine a position of a workpiece, and a positioning system operatively connected to the machining device and being configured to adjust a position of the machining device to align a centerline of the machining device with a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, based upon the determined position of the workpiece. The machining device includes a stabilizing mechanism to engage the workpiece to maintain the workpiece in the determined position, and a cutting element for performing a machining operation on the workpiece.

A method for manufacturing a vehicle body member from a joined sheet. The joined sheet is press formed into a vehicle body member with a predetermined shape by: welding a second sheet material to a first sheet material at a plurality of points including a first joint and a second joint separated from each other; press forming the joined sheet so that a ridge crossing an imaginary line segment connecting the first joint and the second joint is formed in a portion where the first sheet material overlaps the second sheet material; and before the joining step, forming a displacement facilitating portion, which facilitates displacement of the second sheet material relative to the first sheet material in a longitudinal direction of the imaginary line segment, in a portion corresponding to between the first joint and the second joint in the second sheet material.

A method for manufacturing a vehicle body member from a joined sheet. The joined sheet is press formed into a vehicle body member with a predetermined shape by: welding a second sheet material to a first sheet material at a plurality of points including a first joint and a second joint separated from each other; press forming the joined sheet so that a ridge crossing an imaginary line segment connecting the first joint and the second joint is formed in a portion where the first sheet material overlaps the second sheet material; and before the joining step, forming a displacement facilitating portion, which facilitates displacement of the second sheet material relative to the first sheet material in a longitudinal direction of the imaginary line segment, in a portion corresponding to between the first joint and the second joint in the second sheet material.

In a method for cleaning a portion to be welded in which a first portion (Pa) to be welded and a second portion (Pb) to be welded, which are to be joined by butt welding, are cleaned, the first and second portions (Pa, Ph) to be welded are cleaned before the butt welding by injecting, with the first and second portions (Pa, Pb) to be welded abutting on each other, plasma produced from a gas containing oxygen into a groove between the first portion (Pa) to be welded and the second portion Pb) to be welded.

In a method for cleaning a portion to be welded in which a first portion (Pa) to be welded and a second portion (Pb) to be welded, which are to be joined by butt welding, are cleaned, the first and second portions (Pa, Ph) to be welded are cleaned before the butt welding by injecting, with the first and second portions (Pa, Pb) to be welded abutting on each other, plasma produced from a gas containing oxygen into a groove between the first portion (Pa) to be welded and the second portion Pb) to be welded.

A laser patterning apparatus of a three-dimensional object to be processed, which includes a laser generation unit, a first beam adjustment unit for adjusting the magnitude of a laser beam generated in the laser generation unit, a second beam adjustment unit for adjusting the focal location of z-axis, x-axis, and y-axis of the laser beam via the first beam adjustment unit, and a control unit for controlling the second beam adjustment unit so that laser patterning is performed on a three-dimensional object to be processed.

There is described a method of forming a cooling hole in a component having a wall comprising a first surface and a second surface, the method comprising: directing a first laser beam onto the first surface of the component wall at an oblique angle so as to drill a first hole extending from the first surface towards the second surface; directing a second laser beam onto the second surface of the component wall at an oblique angle so as to drill a second hole extending from the second surface towards the first surface, the first and second holes intersecting to form a cooling hole passing through the component wall between the first and second surfaces.

The disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for controlling a cutting process in which a workpiece is cut by a high-energy beam. A process light signal is detected emanating from an interaction region of the high-energy beam with the workpiece in a first wavelength range (1), in which at least one metallic constituent (Fe, Cr) of the workpiece has at least one emission line, and in a second wavelength range (2), which differs from the first wavelength range, in which continuum radiation of the workpiece without emission lines is detectable. Vaporization of the at least one metallic constituent (Fe, Cr) is monitored on the basis of an intensity of the process light signal detected in the first wavelength range (1) and on the basis of an intensity of the process light signal detected in the second wavelength range (2).