An apparatus for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components includes a pressurization arrangement for jointly covering, at least in a region of a joining zone, thermoplastic fiber composite components to be joined and applying pressure to the thermoplastic fiber composite components to press the thermoplastic fiber composite components against one another, at least in the joining zone, the pressurization arrangement being flexible, at least in some section or sections. A welding device is configured for welding the fiber composite components in the joining zone during pressurization. The pressurization arrangement and welding device are configured to weld the thermoplastic fiber composite components in a pressurized state in the joining zone. The pressurization arrangement is configured to maintain pressurization independently of the welding device until the joining zone solidifies. A cover is also disclosed for a pressurization device for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components.

In some aspects, power supplies for liquid cooled plasma cutting systems configured to support plasma arc generation by a torch head connected to the power supply can include: a set of electrical components for plasma arc generation; and a power supply housing containing the set of electrical components, the power supply housing having a front panel and at least two side panels and defining: a set of inlets for allowing a cooling gas to enter the power supply housing to thermally regulate the set of electrical components, at least one inlet of the set of inlets being positioned at a corner of the housing and oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the front panel and to at least one of the two side panels; and a set of vents for allowing at least a portion of the cooling gas to exit the power supply housing.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to automated techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections used to form tubular structures, such as large-scale structures used in industrial applications (e.g., wind towers and pipelines). As compared to manual techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure facilitate faster attachment of flanges, which may be useful for achieving cost-effective throughput. By way of further comparison to manual techniques, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure may, further or instead, facilitate achieving tighter dimensional tolerances. In turn, such tighter dimensional tolerances may be useful for forming thinner-walled, lighter, and lower cost tubular structures. Still further or in the alternative, automated techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections may facilitate attachment of multipiece flanges or other non-traditional flange geometries.

The invention features an inner cap for a liquid-cooled plasma arc torch. The inner cap includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end. The first end includes an annular portion disposed proximate a torch tip. A liquid passage is formed within the body, is shaped to convey a liquid therethrough, and has a first set of ports formed in the annular portion. A gas passage is formed within the body, is shaped to convey a gas therethrough, and includes a second set of ports formed in the annular portion. The annular portion is configured such that subsets of ports in the first set of ports direct the liquid in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis and alternate, in a rotational direction about the longitudinal axis, with subsets of ports in the second set of ports.

A method of making a light weight housing for an internal component is provided. The method including the steps of: forming a first metallic foam core into a desired configuration; forming a second metallic foam core into a desired configuration; inserting an internal component into the first metallic foam core; placing the second metallic foam core adjacent to the first metallic core in order to secure the internal component between the first metallic foam core and the second metallic foam core; applying an external metallic shell to an exterior surface of the first metallic foam core and the second metallic foam core; and securing an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting to the housing, wherein a thermal management fluid path for the internal component into and out of the housing is provided by the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting.

A welding-type system with a programmed controller and alert devices for alerting a user as to the impending thermal shutdown of the welding-type system.

Embodiments of a thermal compression bonding (TCB) process cooling manifold, a TCB process system, and a method for TCB using the cooling manifold are disclosed. In some embodiments, the cooling manifold comprises a pre-mixing chamber that is separated from a mixing chamber by a baffle. The baffle may comprise at least one concentric pattern formed through the baffle such that the primary cooling fluid in the pre-mixing chamber is substantially evenly distributed to the mixing chamber. The pre-mixing chamber may be coupled to a source of primary cooling fluid. The mixing chamber may have an input configured to accept the primary cooling fluid and an output to output the primary cooling fluid.

Systems and methods are disclosed for integrated compressed air cooling for welding systems. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods may employ compressed air to implement one or more welding processes (e.g., a gouging or cutting processes), with the compressed air being conveyed through such welding systems. In some examples, the compressed air is routed within the welding system to provide cooling for one or more components therein. For instance, components such as power conversion circuitry may heat up during the welding process. Routing compressed air to or near the components will introduce relatively cool air to the environment. As the passing compressed air heats in response to interaction with the heated components, heat is drawn from the components and/or the nearby environment.

A tool (10) for processing a workpiece in a processing machine has a connecting portion (11) which is at the machine side during operation and is preferably standardized, for connecting the tool with a numerically controlled machine tool (30), a plasma duct (44) for conducting a generated plasma, and an outlet portion (13) which is at the workpiece side during operation and is disposed at the end of the duct (44), and which comprises one or a plurality of outlets (22) for supplying the plasma to a workpiece surface.

Power systems and enclosures having improved cooling air flow are disclosed. In some examples, a power system includes an enclosure, a first air inlet, a first air routing path, and a second air routing path. The first air inlet is at a first location on an exterior of the enclosure to permit intake of air from the exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the enclosure. The first air routing path is defined by the enclosure and directs air from the first air inlet through a welding-type power supply and a compressor. The second air routing path is separate from the first air routing path and defined by the enclosure. The second air routing path directs the air from the first air inlet or a second air inlet through at least one of an engine or a generator.