There is provided a method of forming cutting blades using selective laser melting comprising positioning a first part of an elongate strip (30) with pre-formed teeth (32) within a powder bed (20), forming coating layers layer-by-layer to create a cutting surface on each pre-formed tooth by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on the powder bed and scanning a laser beam over the deposited powder to fuse powder to the pre-formed teeth.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) objects, 3D printing processes, as well as methods, apparatuses and systems for the production of a 3D object. Methods, apparatuses and systems of the present disclosure may reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary supports. The present disclosure provides three dimensional (3D) objects printed utilizing the printing processes, methods, apparatuses and systems described herein.

A method of machining a diamond includes using a pulsed laser. The diamond is placed in a container containing a transparent liquid. The liquid level is at least 100 microns above a surface of the diamond to be machined, and the transparent liquid can further contain a surfactant additive in an amount of at least 2% and 10% by mass. Next, a laser source is activated such that a laser beam with pulse durations of no longer than one microsecond at a repetition frequency of no more than 5 kHz is applied to the surface to be machined, and relative scanning is performed between the diamond and the laser source, cross-wise to the laser beam and axially in depth, with an amplitude and orientations that are determined by the shape to be machined in the diamond.

A method and an apparatus of a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing system that enables a quick change in the optical beam delivery size and intensity across locations of a print surface for different powdered materials while ensuring high availability of the system. A dynamic optical assembly containing a set of lens assemblies of different magnification ratios and a mechanical assembly may change the magnification ratios as needed. The dynamic optical assembly may include a transitional and rotational position control of the optics to minimize variations of the optical beam sizes across the print surface.

A wire guide and a laser wire-processing device that includes a wire guide are provided. The laser wire-processing device includes a housing and an aperture in a side of the housing, wherein the aperture defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a backstop arranged in the housing and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the backstop defining a wire-contact surface in a facing relationship with the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a wire guide arranged in the housing to manipulate a wire inserted through the aperture into a desired position relative to the longitudinal axis between the aperture and the backstop. The laser wire-processing device also includes a laser operable to direct a laser beam toward an insulation layer of the wire. The wire guide could be a tube arranged in the device or a backstop guide.

A method for electron-beam welding of nickel-based superalloys includes joining two components of a component to be produced of nickel-based superalloys by electron radiation in which the electron radiation is guided with a feed rate of 12 mm/min to 120 mm/min, in particular of 40 mm/min to 80 mm/min, over a joining zone of the two components. A device for the electron-beam welding of two components to form a component of nickel-based alloys, which has at least a vacuum chamber, in which an electron radiation or laser radiation is generated and is directed onto a joining zone of two components to be joined.

A semiconductor fabrication apparatus includes a source chamber being operable to generate charged particles; and a processing chamber integrated with the source chamber and configured to receive the charged particles from the source chamber. The processing chamber includes a wafer stage being operable to secure and move a wafer, and a laser-charged particles interaction module that further includes a laser source to generate a first laser beam; a beam splitter configured to split the first laser beam into a second laser beam and a third laser beam; and a mirror configured to reflect the third laser beam such that the third laser beam is redirected to intersect with the second laser beam to form a laser interference pattern at a path of the charged particles, and wherein the laser interference pattern modulates the charged particles by in a micron-zone mode for processing the wafer using the modulated charged particles.

A method for electron-beam welding of nickel-based superalloys includes joining two components of a component to be produced of nickel-based superalloys by electron radiation in which the electron radiation is guided with a feed rate of 12 mm/min to 120 mm/min, in particular of 40 mm/min to 80 mm/min, over a joining zone of the two components. A device for the electron-beam welding of two components to form a component of nickel-based alloys, which has at least a vacuum chamber, in which an electron radiation or laser radiation is generated and is directed onto a joining zone of two components to be joined.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

A method for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components, including jointly covering thermoplastic fiber composite components to be joined, at least in the region of a joining zone, with a pressurization arrangement, which is flexible, at least in some section or sections, and extensive pressurization of thermoplastic fiber composite components to be joined by the pressurization arrangement, with the result that the fiber composite components are pressed against one another, at least in the joining zone. The fiber composite components are welded in the joining zone during pressurization. The pressurization is maintained by the pressurization arrangement until the joining zone solidifies. A cover is also disclosed, in particular a mold or diaphragm, for a pressurization device for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components, and an apparatus for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components.