A method is provided for connecting a ball to a first component having the following steps: providing a first component which has a through-hole; providing a ball and inserting the ball into the through-hole such that the ball protrudes out of the first component at opposite sides of the first component; placing a first pressing tool on the ball from a first side of the first component and placing a second pressing tool on the ball from a second side of the first component; plastically deforming the ball by pressing together the pressing tools, wherein material of the ball flows both on the first side as well as on the second side of the first component, such that material of the ball covers an edge of the through-hole on the first side and on the second side of the first component, whereby a formfitting connection is produced between the ball and the first component.

A method for welding balls provides a component, provides at least two balls, places at least one first ball of the at least two balls on the component, and applies an electrical voltage in such a manner that a current flows through the at least two balls and through the component, wherein the at least two balls are simultaneously welded together and the first ball is simultaneously welded to the component.

An engraving system using a laser as a tool includes a laser cabinet with a three-point suspension system for mounting the cabinet on a surface such as a table. The three suspension points are arranged in a triangle with at least one of the suspension points being either in the front center or rear center of the field of translation of the engraving tool in the xy plane. While the other two suspension points are mounted in either the left and right front corners of the field or the left and right rear corners of the field or close to those locations. Using the three triangularly arranged suspension points, at least two of which are independently adjustable in elevation, the laser cabinet can be elevated and oriented so as to maintain the plane of the tool translation field parallel to the target surface of the workpiece during an engraving operation. Where the tool is a laser, the cabinet also carries a gas laser tube and an optical system for directing the output thereof to a nozzle aimed downwardly along the z axis and equipped for programmable translation in the xy axis field.

An evaluation method for evaluating laser machining in which irradiation region of a laser beam is moved relative to object to perform machining of object, includes a measurement step and an evaluation step. In the measurement step, a change in an intensity of light according to a movement of measurement region is measured by moving measurement region for measuring the intensity of light, relative to object. In the evaluation step, an evaluation of the laser machining is performed based on the change in the intensity of light according to the movement of measurement region. In the measurement step, measurement region is moved relative to object so that movement path of measurement region has a plurality of intersections with movement path of irradiation region.

An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric module includes an alignment mechanism for aligning a plurality of thermoelectric elements with respect to a plurality of electrodes attached to a substrate, wherein the alignment mechanism includes a dispenser having a plurality of injection portions and the plurality of thermoelectric elements is inserted into the plurality of injection portions.

An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric module includes an alignment mechanism for aligning a plurality of thermoelectric elements with respect to a plurality of electrodes attached to a substrate, wherein the alignment mechanism includes a dispenser having a plurality of injection portions and the plurality of thermoelectric elements is inserted into the plurality of injection portions.

A method for welding a ball onto a first component includes the following steps: providing a first component; creating a physical mark in or on the first component; positioning the ball in the place where the physical mark has been created; and welding the ball in a non-contacting manner to the first component using a laser welding device that is positioned at a distance from the first component and the ball.

A method is provided for connecting a ball to a first component having the following steps: providing a first component which has a through-hole; providing a ball and inserting the ball into the through-hole such that the ball protrudes out of the first component at opposite sides of the first component; placing a first pressing tool on the ball from a first side of the first component and placing a second pressing tool on the ball from a second side of the first component; plastically deforming the ball by pressing together the pressing tools, wherein material of the ball flows both on the first side as well as on the second side of the first component, such that material of the ball covers an edge of the through-hole on the first side and on the second side of the first component, whereby a formfitting connection is produced between the ball and the first component.

A jig device for laser welding of the disclosure includes a jig body having a semi-oval shaped seating groove in which a lower side of a refrigerant pipe to which a charging port is coupled is seated; a first pressing block provided in an upper portion of one side of the jig body and having a first groove part configured to press an upper portion of one side of the refrigerant pipe and an upper portion of one side of a fixing part of the charging port at a lower surface thereof; and a second pressing block provided at an upper portion of the other side of the jig body and having a second groove part configured to press an upper portion of the other side of the refrigerant pipe and an upper portion of the other side of the fixing part of the charging port at a lower surface thereof.

A welding system for welding small precious metal firing tips to spark plug electrodes, such as ground and/or center electrodes. According to one embodiment, the welding system includes a firing tip storage assembly and a firing tip welding assembly, where the firing tip storage assembly uses pressurized gas introduced at the bottom of a part container to float or lift the firing tips so that the firing tip welding assembly can more easily acquire them with a vacuum-driven nozzle that also doubles as a welding electrode. The firing tip welding assembly is mounted to a robotic apparatus that can index or move the firing tip welding assembly between the firing tip storage assembly, a welding station and/or any other suitable positions.