The system includes a plasma strand cutter. The plasma strand cutter includes a plasma torch, the plasma torch including a pivot and an attachment point and an actuating device, the actuating device mounted on the plasma torch at the attachment point. The plasma strand cutter also includes a power supply, the power supply connected to the plasma torch and the actuating device. The system includes a strand puller, the strand puller paired with the plasma strand cutter and a platform, the platform positioned so as to provide a rest for or in close proximity to the strand.

A grid welding machine operating continuously based on the electrical resistance principle having a stationary longitudinal frame, whereon a horizontal group of parallel longitudinal wires can continuously be moved in the production direction by means of a feeding device, and having a pulling-off device, by means of which the cross wires can be pulled off a coil or rings and fed transversely to the group of longitudinal wires in a transfer device extending transversely, which transfer device can pick up multiple cross wires and convey them one after the other towards the longitudinal wires and bring them into contact with said longitudinal wires in the correct orientation according to the scaling of the cross wires and drop them there, and having electrodes and counter electrodes the weld surfaces of which can be pressed against each other with the points of intersection formed between the longitudinal wires and the cross wires therebetween.

A spark absorbing system for use with a cutting torch, comprises a cap having at least one spark opening therethrough and a spark capture unit coupled to the cap and positioned to capture sparks passing through the spark opening. The spark capture unit may comprise a tube extending from the cap and may include an outlet and a flow-reduction element positioned between the cap and the outlet and/or a spark accumulator between the cap and the spark capture unit. The flow-reduction element may comprise at least one baffle, screen or mesh. The spark absorbing system may further include a spark ramp extending from the cap opposite the spark capture unit and/or a shield, which may define a cutting space between the shield and the cap.

A conductor connection device for joining a plurality of conductors with ultrasonic welding, the conductor connection device comprising: a horn including a contact surface that is brought into contact with the conductors, the horn being configured to be ultrasonically vibrated; a pair of restricting portions configured to be brought into contact with the contact surface and to be relatively movable along the contact surface; and an anvil that is relatively moved toward and away from the contact surface, the horn and the pair of restricting portions being moved relative to the anvil to sandwich the anvil between the pair of restricting portions facing each other, and at least one of the pair of restricting portions being moved toward the other.

A method of seamless bonding comprises in sequence: feeding a filler wire into a de-scaling unit; removing with the de-scaling unit a contamination layer disposed onto a core of the filler wire, removing the contamination layer comprising: applying a laser beam to the filler wire at a wavelength causing at least a portion of the contamination layer to break away from the core of the filler wire while leaving the core unaffected; and feeding the filler wire to a seamless bonding unit. A seamless bonding device is also presented.

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a fine wire suitable for speedy and small quantity production of a fine wire having a desired cross-sectional area at low cost without being restricted much by a material. The method includes: stacking a metal powder on an upper surface of a molding plate in which a plurality of semicircular molding grooves are formed in parallel; melting the metal powder by projecting a laser beam onto the metal powder stacked on the upper surface of the molding plate, wherein the laser beam is projected along the molding grooves to melt the metal powder; and removing the remaining metal powder when the melted metal powder is solidified so that a wire is formed in the molding grooves of the molding plate.

Systems and methods for the manufacture of a solid wire using additive manufacturing techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fine powdery material is sintered or melted or soldered or metallurgically bonded onto a metal strip substrate in a compacted solid form or a near-net shape (e.g., a near-net solid wire shape) before being turned into a final product through forming or drawing dies.

An ultrasonic welding system is provided. The ultrasonic welding system includes a support structure for supporting a workpiece. The ultrasonic welding system also includes a weld head assembly including an ultrasonic converter carrying a sonotrode. The ultrasonic welding system also includes a z-axis motion system carrying the weld head assembly. The z-axis motion system includes (i) a z-axis forcer for moving the weld head assembly along a z-axis of the ultrasonic welding system, and (ii) a z-axis overtravel mechanism disposed between the z-axis forcer and the weld head assembly.

A steel sheet for the manufacture of a press hardened part is provided, having a composition of: 0.15%C%0.22%, 3.5%Mn<4.2%, 0.001%Si%1.5%, 0.020%Al0.9%, 0.001%Cr1%, 0.001%Mo0.3%, 0.001%Ti0.040%, 0.0003%B0.004%, 0.001%Nb0.060%, 0.001%N0.009%, 0.0005%S0.003%, 0.001%P0.020%. A microstructure has less than 50% ferrite, 1% to 20% retained austenite, cementite, such that the surface density of cementite particles larger than 60 nm is lower than 107/mm.sup.2, and a complement of bainite and/or martensite, the retained austenite having an average Mn content of at least 1.1*Mn %. Press-hardened steel part obtained by hot forming the steel sheet, and manufacturing methods thereof.

A composition comprised of manganese or a compound thereof, a cellulosic material, a carbonate, titanium, and one or more from: an alloying agent, a slag-forming agent, an arc-stabilizing agent, wherein the cellulosic material is present at a concentration of 1% to 40%, by weight, and wherein the manganese or a compound thereof is present at a concentration of 0.5 to 5%, by weight, is disclosed. A method of depositing a weld metal on a surface is further disclosed.