A build plate-clamping assembly may include a work station having a build plate-receiving surface and a lock-pin extending from the build plate-receiving surface of the work station. The lock-pin may include a hollow pin body, a piston disposed within the hollow pin body, with the piston axially movable from a retracted position to an actuated position, and a plurality of detents, with the plurality of detents radially extensible through respective ones of a plurality of detent-apertures in the hollow pin body responsive to the piston having been axially moved to the actuated position. A methods of working on workpieces may include lockingly engaging a build plate at a first work station, performing a first work-step, releasing the build plate from the first work station, lockingly engaging the build plate at a second work station, and performing a second work-step. An additive manufacturing system may include a vision system with a first build plate-receiving surface and an additive manufacturing machine with a second build plate-receiving surface.

A build plate-clamping assembly may include a work station having a build plate-receiving surface and a lock-pin extending from the build plate-receiving surface of the work station. The lock-pin may include a hollow pin body, a piston disposed within the hollow pin body, with the piston axially movable from a retracted position to an actuated position, and a plurality of detents, with the plurality of detents radially extensible through respective ones of a plurality of detent-apertures in the hollow pin body responsive to the piston having been axially moved to the actuated position. A methods of working on workpieces may include lockingly engaging a build plate at a first work station, performing a first work-step, releasing the build plate from the first work station, lockingly engaging the build plate at a second work station, and performing a second work-step. An additive manufacturing system may include a vision system with a first build plate-receiving surface and an additive manufacturing machine with a second build plate-receiving surface.

An object of the disclosure is to improve processing performance. Another object of the disclosure is to improve a working environment and reduce a failure of a processing apparatus. The processing apparatus includes a processing stage on which a composite material is set, a laser head that emits a laser beam in a predetermined direction to the composite material set on the processing stage, a blow off unit that blows off a shield gas to an irradiation point irradiated with the laser beam by the laser head, and an intake unit that takes in the shield gas blown from the blow off unit. The blow off unit and the intake unit are provided so as to interpose the irradiation point and face each other in a first intersecting direction and cause the shield gas to flow in one direction.

An object of the disclosure is to improve processing performance. Another object of the disclosure is to improve a working environment and reduce a failure of a processing apparatus. The processing apparatus includes a processing stage on which a composite material is set, a laser head that emits a laser beam in a predetermined direction to the composite material set on the processing stage, a blow off unit that blows off a shield gas to an irradiation point irradiated with the laser beam by the laser head, and an intake unit that takes in the shield gas blown from the blow off unit. The blow off unit and the intake unit are provided so as to interpose the irradiation point and face each other in a first intersecting direction and cause the shield gas to flow in one direction.

A visible light laser system and operation for welding materials together. A blue laser system that forms essentially perfect welds for copper based materials. A blue laser system and operation for welding conductive elements, and in particular thin conductive elements, together for use in energy storage devices, such as battery packs.

A visible light laser system and operation for welding materials together. A blue laser system that forms essentially perfect welds for copper based materials. A blue laser system and operation for welding conductive elements, and in particular thin conductive elements, together for use in energy storage devices, such as battery packs.

A laser cladding head comprises a protective housing, a focal array, a turning mirror, and a powder nozzle. The housing extends along a primary axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The focal array is situated at the proximal end and oriented to receive and focus collimated light in a beam directed substantially along the primary axis. The turning mirror is situated at the distal end and disposed to redirect the beam in an emission direction, towards a target point separated from the turning mirror by a working distance of at most a tenth the focal length. The turning mirror is a nonfocal reflective surface indexable to alter an impingement location of the beam on the turning mirror. The powder nozzle is situated at the distal end and receives and directs weld material towards the target point for melting.

A laser cladding head comprises a protective housing, a focal array, a turning mirror, and a powder nozzle. The housing extends along a primary axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The focal array is situated at the proximal end and oriented to receive and focus collimated light in a beam directed substantially along the primary axis. The turning mirror is situated at the distal end and disposed to redirect the beam in an emission direction, towards a target point separated from the turning mirror by a working distance of at most a tenth the focal length. The turning mirror is a nonfocal reflective surface indexable to alter an impingement location of the beam on the turning mirror. The powder nozzle is situated at the distal end and receives and directs weld material towards the target point for melting.

An additive manufacturing system including a housing configured to contain a powder bed of material, and an array of laser emitters having a field of view. The array is configured to melt at least a portion of the powder bed within the field of view as the array translates relative to the powder bed. The system further includes a spatter collection device including a diffuser configured to discharge a stream of gas across the powder bed, and a collector configured to receive the stream of gas and contaminants entrained in the stream of gas. The collector is spaced from the diffuser such that a collection zone is defined therebetween, and the spatter collection device is configured to translate relative to the powder bed such that the collection zone overlaps with the field of view of the array.

An additive manufacturing system including a housing configured to contain a powder bed of material, and an array of laser emitters having a field of view. The array is configured to melt at least a portion of the powder bed within the field of view as the array translates relative to the powder bed. The system further includes a spatter collection device including a diffuser configured to discharge a stream of gas across the powder bed, and a collector configured to receive the stream of gas and contaminants entrained in the stream of gas. The collector is spaced from the diffuser such that a collection zone is defined therebetween, and the spatter collection device is configured to translate relative to the powder bed such that the collection zone overlaps with the field of view of the array.