A system for manufacturing a drive shaft assembly comprises a welding apparatus configured to weld a tube to an end fitting to form the drive shaft assembly having an annular weld. A transport apparatus is configured to transport the drive shaft assembly away from the welding apparatus. A knurling apparatus receives the drive shaft assembly from the transport apparatus. The knurling apparatus is configured to knurl the weld of the drive shaft assembly. The knurling apparatus includes a pair of knurling plates having textured surfaces in facing relationship. One of the knurling plates is configured to move relative to the other of the knurling plates to roll the drive shaft assembly between the textured surfaces, thereby knurling the weld to improve an appearance and texture of the outer surface of the drive shaft assembly.

A system for manufacturing a drive shaft assembly comprises a welding apparatus configured to weld a tube to an end fitting to form the drive shaft assembly having an annular weld. A transport apparatus is configured to transport the drive shaft assembly away from the welding apparatus. A knurling apparatus receives the drive shaft assembly from the transport apparatus. The knurling apparatus is configured to knurl the weld of the drive shaft assembly. The knurling apparatus includes a pair of knurling plates having textured surfaces in facing relationship. One of the knurling plates is configured to move relative to the other of the knurling plates to roll the drive shaft assembly between the textured surfaces, thereby knurling the weld to improve an appearance and texture of the outer surface of the drive shaft assembly.

A printing solder point quality identification and maintenance suggestion system and a method thereof are disclosed. In the system, when solder paste inspection data, component inspection data or circuit inspection data indicates presence of defect, an analysis and calculation device intercepts the operating data, the equipment data, the raw material data, the process data and the environment data from a time data stream, to generate a data feature portrait. The analysis and calculation device then sets a reliability value based on location association between the solder paste inspection data, the component inspection data, the circuit inspection data and the maintenance data in the location data stream, and performs similarity calculation on the data feature portrait and the comparison data feature portrait to calculate a similarity value, and then calculates a relative reliability value, and compares the relative reliability value with a reliability threshold value to generate maintenance suggestion information.

A printing solder point quality identification and maintenance suggestion system and a method thereof are disclosed. In the system, when solder paste inspection data, component inspection data or circuit inspection data indicates presence of defect, an analysis and calculation device intercepts the operating data, the equipment data, the raw material data, the process data and the environment data from a time data stream, to generate a data feature portrait. The analysis and calculation device then sets a reliability value based on location association between the solder paste inspection data, the component inspection data, the circuit inspection data and the maintenance data in the location data stream, and performs similarity calculation on the data feature portrait and the comparison data feature portrait to calculate a similarity value, and then calculates a relative reliability value, and compares the relative reliability value with a reliability threshold value to generate maintenance suggestion information.

A method for making a bonded metal piece, including (a) obtaining a first piece of stock metal comprising a first surface and a second piece of the stock metal comprising a second surface; (b) smoothing the first surface so as to form a first contact surface and smoothing the second surface so as to form a second contact surface; (c) cleaning the first contact surface and the second contact surface; (d) loading the first piece and the second piece into a furnace; and (e) bonding the first piece to the second piece so as to form a bonded metal piece comprising the first contact surface diffusion bonded to the second contact surface. The bonding includes (i) heating the first piece and the second piece to a temperature below a superplastic forming temperature of the stock metal; and (ii) applying a pressure comprising pressing the first contact surface and the second contact surface together while the first piece and the second piece are at the temperature. In one or more examples, the bonded metal piece is machined (without forging or working into shape) into an aircraft part.

An ultrasonic-based welder qualification system is disclosed. The ultrasonic-based welder qualification system provides an inclusive inspection cabinet for welder qualification coupons with a development path for machine learning assisted analysis according to relevant codes/standards. Advanced Ultrasonic do not require permitting and the close loop system will provide pre-programmed procedures for auto-examination capabilities. The system can include a roller assembly for supporting a coupon, and a gantry assembly for positioning ultrasonic probes on the coupon. The gantry assembly can include vertical drive members and a horizontal drive member movable along the vertical drive members. The ultrasonic probes can be movably associated along the horizontal drive member. The system can utilize machine learning to analyze weld data for providing rapid weld qualification information. A portable cabinet can house all the components for providing rapid transport to sites.

This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing method that includes monitoring a temperature of a portion of a build plane during an additive manufacturing operation using a temperature sensor as a heat source passes through the portion of the build plane; detecting a peak temperature associated with one or more passes of the heat source through the portion of the build plane; determining a threshold temperature by reducing the peak temperature by a predetermined amount; identifying a time interval during which the monitored temperature exceeds the threshold temperature; identifying, using the time interval, a change in manufacturing conditions likely to result in a manufacturing defect; and changing a process parameter of the heat source in response to the change in manufacturing conditions.

An ultrasonic welding device includes a sonotrode, an anvil, a receiving chamber in which joining partners to be welded are to be received and which is defined on opposing sides by the sonotrode on the one hand and by the anvil on the other hand, and a camera assembly with at least one camera which is integrated in the ultrasonic welding device. The camera assembly is configured to record images of at least one partial region of the receiving chamber for the optical monitoring of welding conditions which have an impact on welds of the joining partners.

An ultrasonic welding device includes a sonotrode, an anvil, a receiving chamber in which joining partners to be welded are to be received and which is defined on opposing sides by the sonotrode on the one hand and by the anvil on the other hand, and a camera assembly with at least one camera which is integrated in the ultrasonic welding device. The camera assembly is configured to record images of at least one partial region of the receiving chamber for the optical monitoring of welding conditions which have an impact on welds of the joining partners.

Systems, devices, and methods for additive manufacturing are provided that allow for components being manufactured to be assessed during the printing process. As a result, changes to a print plan can be considered, made, and implemented during the printing process. More particularly, in exemplary embodiments, a spectrometer is operated while a component is being printed to measure one or more parameters associated with one or more layers of the component being printed. The measured parameter(s) are then relied upon to determine if any changes are needed to the way printing is occurring, and if such changes are desirable, the system is able to implement such changes during the printing process. By way of non-limiting examples, printed material in one or more layers may be reheated to alter the printed component, such as to remove defects identified by the spectrometer data. A variety of systems, devices, and methods for performing real-time sensing and control of an additive manufacturing process are also provided.