The present invention provides a solder alloy, a solder paste, a solder ball, a resin flux-cored solder and a solder joint, both of which has the low-melting point to suppress the occurrence of the fusion failure, improves the ductility and the shear strength, and has excellent heat-cycle resistance. The solder alloy comprises an alloy composition composed of 35 to 68 mass % of Bi, 0.1 to 2.0 mass % of Sb, 0.01 to 0.10 mass % of Ni, and a balance of Sn. The alloy composition may contain at least one of Co, Ti, Al and Mn in total amount of 0.1 mass % or less. The solder alloy may be suitably used for a solder paste, a solder ball, a resin flux-cored solder and a solder joint.

A battery module includes at least one battery cell array including a cell frame and a plurality of battery cells, each battery cell having electrode terminals disposed at both ends of each battery cell and oriented toward the same direction, the plurality of battery cells being disposed in a lateral direction when mounted in the cell frame; and a plurality of connection members attached to the electrode terminals of a respective battery cell of the at least one battery cell array at an upper portion, a lower portion, or both of the at least one battery cell array, wherein each connection member is a metal plate having at least three vertical slits that are spaced apart from each other and a horizontal slit that crosses at least one of the vertical slits.

A laser ablation process can be configured to reduce the appearance of or eliminate a potentially objectionable diffraction effect that can occur when a workpiece or product that has been subjected to the ablation process interacts with light. The diffraction effect can be reduced by introducing irregularity into the arrangement of overlapping laser spots during the process. Other process parameters may be modified to reduce the diffraction effect, such as laser scan speed, laser pulse frequency, the position of the focal plane of the laser, the configuration of raster lines, or the energy profile of the laser beam, for example. The process modifications and configurations are particularly useful with products including an ablated surface that is intended to reflect light or to allow light to pass therethrough as part of its function.

A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up includes directing a laser beam at a top surface of a first metal workpiece to form a key-hole that entirely penetrates the workpiece stack-up, including an underlying second metal workpiece, so that the keyhole reaches a bottom surface of the second metal workpiece. A zone of negative pressure established under the bottom surface of the second metal workpiece extracts vapors that are produced by the laser beam. The vapors, in particular, are extracted from the bottom surface of the second metal workpiece through the keyhole. A bottom workpiece holder that supports the bottom metal workpiece during laser welding may be constructed to establish the zone of negative pressure.

A method of treatment includes laser-hardening a portion of a component and texturing a treated surface of the portion with a hydrophobic surface texture. In some embodiments, the method includes polishing the treated surface after laser-hardening the portion and prior to texturing the treated surface. A component includes a component body having a portion that is laser-hardened. The treated surface is hydrophobic with a hydrophobic surface texture. In some embodiments, the component is a turbine component. In some embodiments, the portion is a leading edge. A turbine system includes a turbine shaft and a turbine component attached to the turbine shaft. The turbine component includes a component body having a leading edge. The leading edge is laser-hardened and the treated surface of the leading edge is hydrophobic with a hydrophobic surface texture.

The thermal processing device includes a stage, a continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source, a series of lenses, a translation mechanism, a detection module, a three-dimensional auto-focus, and a computer system. The stage is configured to receive a substrate thereon. The continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source is disposed adjacent the stage, and is configured to emit continuous wave electromagnetic radiation along a path towards the substrate. The series of lenses is disposed between the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source and the stage, and are configured to condense the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation into a line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation on a surface of the substrate. The translation mechanism is configured to translate the stage and the line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation relative to one another. The detection module is positioned within the path, and is configured to detect continuous wave electromagnetic radiation.

A boroscope includes a working head having first and second ends. A first optical fiber extends through the boroscope to a position between the first and second ends. A second optical fiber extends through the boroscope to the second end of the working head. A laser optical fiber extends through the boroscope. At least one lens is arranged between the first end and the second end of the working head and a mirror is gimballed to the second end of the working head. The laser optical fiber directs laser light transmitted through the laser optical fiber onto the lens and then onto the mirror. A first LED is arranged at a position between the first end and the second end of the working head and a second LED is arranged at the second end of the working head and an actuator devices adjust the position of the mirror.

A process of fabricating a shield, a process of preparing a component, and an erosion shield are disclosed. The process of fabricating the shield includes forming a near-net shape shield. The near-net shape shield includes a nickel-based layer and an erosion-resistant alloy layer. The nickel-based layer is configured to facilitate secure attachment of the near-net shaped to a component. The process of preparing the component includes securing a near-net shape shield to a substrate of a component.

A welded steel part with a very high mechanical strength is provided. The welded steel part is obtained by heating followed by hot forming, then cooling of at least one welded blank obtained by butt welding of at least one first and one second sheet. The at least one first and second sheets including, at least in part, a steel substrate and a pre-coating which includes an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a metal alloy layer of aluminum or aluminum-based alloy. A method for the fabrication of a welded steel part and the fabrication of structural or safety parts for automotive vehicles are also provided.

Method for joining a first and a second steel blanks, at least one of the blanks comprising aluminium. The method comprises providing a support being made of a magnetic material for each blank, the supports being arranged distanced apart by a central space; providing a coil winding around one support, arranging the first blank on one support and the second blank on the other support, such that a butt end of the first blank that is facing the second blank is brought into contact with a butt end of the second blank that is facing the first blank defining a contacting area that closes a path for magnetic flux. The method further comprises applying a laser beam onto the contacting area, while applying an alternating current to the coil winding, wherein an alternating magnetic field is created across the contacting area in a direction substantially in-line with the blanks.