Method and system for a laser welding process employing the use of a single pulsed fiber laser source configured to generate a radiative output with a wavelength spectrum extending from about 1.8 microns to about 2.6 microns. In a specific case, the laser output from the single pulsed fiber laser source is focused onto the interface of the two pieces of materials at least one of which includes any of glasses, inorganic crystals, and semiconductors.

A laser welding system for welding a component and reducing defects in the weld by ensuring uniform, laminar gas flow over a process area of the system. The laser welding system comprises a laser for welding the component, a platform for supporting the component, an enclosure surrounding the platform, a first actuatable barrier, a second actuatable barrier, an actuator, and a controller. The enclosure includes a plurality of walls, one of the walls having an inlet and another wall having an outlet. The inlet and outlet each having an opening having a cross-sectional area for letting gas flow through. The first and second barriers are configured to modify the cross-sectional areas of the openings when actuated. The actuator is configured to actuate the barriers, and the controller is configured to direct the actuator to actuate the barriers so that the cross-sectional area of the first opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the second opening so that a pressure at the inlet is greater than a pressure at the outlet.

This invention provides a laser welding method in which a state where the irradiation energy density becomes excessively high by a plurality of times of irradiation with laser is not caused and a defect, such as a hole, does not occur in a workpiece. In order to achieve the object, a laser welding method for welding a plurality of workpieces by irradiating the workpieces in a stacked state with a laser beam is characterized in that, when the laser beam is reciprocatingly emitted along a fixed welding line, the irradiation positions of a start end A and a termination end A″ of the irradiation are shifted away from each other so that the irradiation energy can be dispersed. Moreover, when the laser beam is emitted a plurality of times in the same direction along the fixed welding line, the irradiation positions of the start ends or/and the termination ends of the irradiation are shifted away from each other so that the irradiation energy can be dispersed.

This invention provides a laser welding method in which a state where the irradiation energy density becomes excessively high by a plurality of times of irradiation with laser is not caused and a defect, such as a hole, does not occur in a workpiece. In order to achieve the object, a laser welding method for welding a plurality of workpieces by irradiating the workpieces in a stacked state with a laser beam is characterized in that, when the laser beam is reciprocatingly emitted along a fixed welding line, the irradiation positions of a start end A and a termination end A″ of the irradiation are shifted away from each other so that the irradiation energy can be dispersed. Moreover, when the laser beam is emitted a plurality of times in the same direction along the fixed welding line, the irradiation positions of the start ends or/and the termination ends of the irradiation are shifted away from each other so that the irradiation energy can be dispersed.

A method for mechanically joining steel applies a variable clamp force to a stack of sheet metal portions, which include at least one portion of advanced high strength steel (AHSS). The stack is heated to an optimal mechanical joining temperature to preserve the strength and material properties of the stack and to form a mechanical joint with the advanced high strength steel. A tool and system for performing the method, and a joint assembly formed by the method are provided.

A method for mechanically joining steel applies a variable clamp force to a stack of sheet metal portions, which include at least one portion of advanced high strength steel (AHSS). The stack is heated to an optimal mechanical joining temperature to preserve the strength and material properties of the stack and to form a mechanical joint with the advanced high strength steel. A tool and system for performing the method, and a joint assembly formed by the method are provided.

An embodiment is directed to a contact plate configured to establish electrical bonds between battery cells in a battery module, including at least one primary conductive layer, and a set of bonding connectors that are configured to provide direct electrical bonds between the contact plate and terminals of a group of battery cells, the set of bonding connectors being configured to connect the group of battery cells in parallel with each other, wherein at least one bonding connector in the set of bonding connectors is configured with a higher fuse rating than each other bonding connector in the set of bonding connectors so as to contain arcs among the set of bonding connectors to the at least one bonding connector.

An embodiment is directed to a contact plate configured to establish electrical bonds between battery cells in a battery module, including at least one primary conductive layer, and a set of bonding connectors that are configured to provide direct electrical bonds between the contact plate and terminals of a group of battery cells, the set of bonding connectors being configured to connect the group of battery cells in parallel with each other, wherein at least one bonding connector in the set of bonding connectors is configured with a higher fuse rating than each other bonding connector in the set of bonding connectors so as to contain arcs among the set of bonding connectors to the at least one bonding connector.

A method for manufacturing a stator for a rotary electric machine including: a process of abutting, on each other, tip end parts of one coil piece and an other one coil piece for forming a stator coil of a rotary electric machine; and a welding process of irradiating a welding target location regarding the tip end part having been abutted with a laser beam having a wavelength of 0.6 μm or less, in which in the welding process, the laser beam is generated for every pulse oscillation in a laser oscillator in a mode of having a laser output of 3.0 kW or more, and in at least a part of a period during one pulse oscillation, the laser beam is moved so that an irradiation position changes linearly parallel to an abutment surface of the tip end part.

A welding method includes: irradiating a plurality of metal foils stacked on a first surface of a metal member in a first direction with laser light to weld the metal member and the plurality of metal foils to each other, the laser light including first laser light having a wavelength of 800 [nm] or more and 1200 [nm] or less and second laser light having a wavelength of 550 [nm] or less, a second surface of a metal foil farthest from the metal member in the first direction among the plurality of metal foils, on a side opposite to the metal member, being irradiated with the laser light.