A thin-skin support member is provided. The thin-skin support member may include a semi-circular edge and a flat edge that define a hollow cavity. A cylindrical cavity may be adjacent the hollow cavity and at least partially defined by the semi-circular edge. The cylindrical cavity may be configured to retain a strut assembly. A mounting interface may be coupled to the semi-circular edge and the flat edge. A torsion interface may be disposed adjacent the cylindrical cavity and configured to receive a torsion link. The thin-skin support member may be made using additive manufacturing and thus may have a grain structure grown in the direction of material being added.

A flux composition includes a component (A) that is a powder of an alkali metal zinc fluoroaluminate represented by “M.sub.wZn.sub.xAl.sub.yF.sub.z (1)” (wherein M is K or Cs, and w, x, y, and z are a positive integer, the greatest common divisor of w, x, y, and z being 1), the content of the component (A) in the flux composition being 50 mass % or more. The flux composition prevents occurrence of a brazing defect and discoloration even when an aluminum alloy is brazed in an atmosphere having a high oxygen concentration, or an atmosphere having high humidity.

Method for cutting objects out of an at least partially two-ply web of material by means of a cutting device, wherein two material plies are connected to one another at least partially in a linear, strip-like and/or areal manner. The position of the respective object to be cut out is detected contactlessly on the basis of changes in structure in the material, these being part of the object which arise on account of those regions in the web of material which are connected to one another in a linear, strip-like and/or areal manner. The position of the object is detected in the web of material at least on the basis of previously determined and stored, prominent and spaced-apart geometrical part shapes of those regions of the object which are connected to one another in a linear, strip-like and/or areal manner.

A method for joining skin portions of a closed fuselage, in particular for an aircraft or spacecraft, has the following method steps: providing at least a first skin portion and a second skin portion, at least one of the skin portions being fitted with components to remain in the fuselage; positioning at least the first skin portion and the second skin portion relative to one another in a first joint such that the skin portions form a circumferentially closed fuselage arrangement; guiding a first joining head along the first joint on an outer surface of the fuselage arrangement; and guiding a second joining head along the first joint on an inner surface of the fuselage arrangement, the second joining head being guided along longitudinal guide means which are arranged inside the circumferentially closed fuselage arrangement and are formed at least in part by the components to remain in the fuselage.

In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a process for forming a reinforced rocker panel assembly, and which includes positioning a reinforcement patch having first and second patch sections in surface-to-surface contact with a blank panel sheet, and welding the first patch section to the blank panel sheet. The process further includes bending both the blank panel sheet and the reinforcement patch along a bend line interposed between the first and second patch sections to form the blank panel sheet into a rocker panel portion having an elongated base section and a longitudinal flange, where the first and second patch sections are in at least partial abutting contact with the base section and the flange. The process also includes welding the second patch section to the flange.

A laser welded joint has weld metal provided between a plurality of steel sheets. A chemical composition of the weld metal has predetermined components, and average hardness of the weld metal is 350 to 540 in Vickers hardness. In the weld metal, distribution density of porosities having a diameter of 2 μm to 50 μm is equal to or less than 5.0 pieces/mm.sup.2. In the weld metal, distribution density of oxide inclusions having a diameter of 3 μm or more is 0.1 to 8.0 pieces/mm.sup.2.

The present invention is provided with a roof side rail, a side outer panel that is formed of a dissimilar metal material having a higher electrical conductivity than the roof side rail, and a metal layer that is formed of the same metal material as the roof side rail and is disposed between the roof side rail and the side outer panel. Forming a nugget, which is a joint portion, between the roof side rail and the metal layer by carrying out resistance welding with the metal coating disposed between the roof side rail and the side outer panel makes it possible to accommodate the enhanced strength of an iron member and to render prepared hole processing unnecessary.

A welding electrode apparatus has an electrode base, and electrode tip, and a locking ring that clamps the tip to the base, and that, when released, permits the tip to be replaced when worn. The locking ring and electrode tip co-operate to define an accommodation for a machine fed nut. The locking ring has a non-electrically conductive end face, and stands proud of the tip of the electrode. The locking ring has an unobstructed outside peripheral face suitable for gripping and tightening or loosening with a wrench. The locking ring has an internal, annular fluid cooling gallery and inlet and outlet ports tapped into the gallery. The cross-section of the gallery is non circular. The wall thickness of the part is roughly constant. On assembly and installation, the locking ring clamps to the tip and base, and provides a thermal conduction heat path to each of them.

A hybrid bumper assembly for a vehicle includes a steel reinforcement beam and aluminum crush cans attached to end portions of the steel reinforcement beam. The reinforcement beam has a multi-tubular shape that is formed by a high-strength steel sheet that is roll formed to provide at least two tubular portions. A crush can has an interfacing portion that is coupled to an end portion of the reinforcement beam. The end portions of the reinforcement beam and the interfacing portion of the crush cans may be configured to attach together using a select joining technology in a manner that minimizes or eliminates bimetallic or galvanic corrosion between the reinforcement beam and the crush cans.

A method for producing a vehicle structural component includes providing a first component body and a second component body and additively building up a connecting body. The first component body and the second component body are connected by the connecting body during the additively building up of the connecting body at least in a portion to form the vehicle structural component.