A transition structure includes a metallic portion, a fiber portion including a plurality of tows embedded within the metallic portion and extending out from the metallic portion forming a fabric, and a binding material forming a matrix surrounding the fiber portion embedded within the metallic portion. The fiber portion may be attached to or form part of a composite vehicle component. The transition structure may join a metallic component and a composite component. The transition structure may be manufactured by creating first channels within a layer of a metallic substrate, inserting fiber tows into the first channels, placing a first metallic layer over the metallic substrate and the fiber tows, consolidating the metallic layer to the metallic substrate, and binding the fiber tows within a resin. Prior to binding, additional layers of channels and fiber tows may be consolidated onto the first metallic layer.

A method for bonding components is disclosed. The method may comprise positioning an interlayer between a metallic component and a metal-plated non-metallic component at a bond region, heating the bond region to a bonding temperature to produce a liquid at the bond region, and maintaining the bond region at the bonding temperature until the liquid has solidified to form a bond between the metallic component and the metal-plated non-metallic component at the bond region. A method for providing a part having a customized coating is also disclosed. The method may comprise applying a metallic coating on a surface of a metallic substrate, and bonding the metallic coating to the metallic substrate by a transient liquid phase bonding process to provide the part having the customized coating.

A method of manufacturing a high-pressure fluid vessel includes forming a first portion of a high-pressure fluid vessel with a molding process. The high-pressure fluid vessel includes a stack of capsules. Each capsule includes a first domed end, a second domed end, and a semicylindrical portion extending between and connecting the first domed end to the second domed end. The method further includes forming a second portion of a high-pressure fluid vessel with the molding process. The second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel is positioned adjacent to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel. The second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel is welded to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel.

A laser processing device of the present invention includes a laser radiation unit which is configured to perform laser processing on a workpiece while scanning a work surface from an end portion of the workpiece to form a processing groove of which one end is open at the end portion of the workpiece and the other end is closed; and a nozzle unit which is configured to inject a gas along the surface of the workpiece such that a flow velocity thereof increases from the one end of the processing groove toward the other end.

A C-shaped tool holder consisting of an integral frame structure that is delimited by an inner and an outer edge, each C-shaped, in which the C-shaped edges are made from and are connected to each other by at least five multiple-vertex frame bodies that are integrated into the frame structure, in particular triangles, quadrilaterals and pentagons, wherein in each case an inner side of the individual multiple-vertex frame bodies is a connecting surface, continuously curving along a circumferential direction, along the sides of the respective multiple-vertex frame body, and the inner and the outer C-shaped edge is each delimited to the outside by a continuously curving lateral surface.

The laser irradiation device irradiates a laser beam at intervals of predetermined time. At one time of irradiation, the laser beam has a waveform composed of a former portion and a latter portion. In the former portion, an increase rate of irradiation intensity per unit time is maximized on an outset of irradiation and is gradually reduced as the irradiation intensity approaches a maximum. In the latter portion, a reduction rate of irradiation intensity per unit time is maximized after the former portion and is gradually reduced as the irradiation intensity approaches a baseline current.

Metal ceramic composites, or metallic matrix composites (MMCs), may be formed by additive manufacturing (AM) processing of powder beds including a plurality of metallic particles of one or more metals and a plurality of ceramic particles of one or more ceramic materials. The presence of the ceramic particles during the AM process changes the optical properties and/or thermal conductivity of the powder bed since the ceramic particles have markedly different optical properties and/or thermal conductivity relative to metal particles. These optical properties and/or thermal conductivities of the ceramic particles can be tailored in different areas within a given layer of the powder bed to change energy absorption of an energy beam in the different areas. The resulting MMCs exhibit significantly improved performance characteristics, including increases in strength properties, while maintaining ductility and improvement of resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, among others characteristics.

A method of producing a compound material including at least one metal and at least one polymer includes: 3D-printing a 3D lattice of the at least one metal; and introducing the at least one polymer into the 3D-lattice.

Methods and apparatus for semi-automated tack welding of plies of a thermoplastic composite layup are described. An example welding tool includes a stabilization foot, a housing, a compaction foot, and a welder. The stabilization foot has a stabilization surface. The housing has a central axis. The housing is movable relative to the stabilization surface along the central axis of the housing. The compaction foot has a central axis and a compaction surface. The compaction surface is movable relative to the stabilization surface and to the housing along the central axis of the compaction surface. The welder has a central axis and a welding surface. The welding surface is movable relative to the stabilization surface, to the housing, and to the compaction surface along the central axis of the welder.

Methods and apparatus for semi-automated tack welding of plies of a thermoplastic composite layup are described. An example welding tool includes a stabilization foot, a housing, a compaction foot, and a welder. The stabilization foot has a stabilization surface. The housing has a central axis. The housing is movable relative to the stabilization surface along the central axis of the housing. The compaction foot has a central axis and a compaction surface. The compaction surface is movable relative to the stabilization surface and to the housing along the central axis of the compaction surface. The welder has a central axis and a welding surface. The welding surface is movable relative to the stabilization surface, to the housing, and to the compaction surface along the central axis of the welder.