A method for matching and tracking workpieces in laser etching operation includes generating by the computer a label image that uniquely identifies the workpiece, moving a laser head to the workpiece, setting the laser head to a first power level by a power controller, etching the product image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the first power level in accordance with a product image in a pixel wise fashion across the workpiece, moving the laser head to the label by the transport mechanism, setting the laser head to a second power level by the power controller, etching the label image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the second power level in accordance with the label image in a pixel wise fashion across the label.

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 welding process involves a fixture for holding a workpiece and a welder, or welding electrode. The fixture imposes ultrasonic vibration on the workpiece. The welder vibrates during vibration, and is operable at a first voltage for welding and a second voltage for peening. The peening may occur while the weldmetal is crystallizing. The welding process may be a process of welding two part as together, or of filling a groove or other feature, or of applying or restoring a surface, or of applying a hard facing or ceramic to a parent metal or object. The weldmetal may be the same, or substantially the same, as the parent metal, or it may be different. The different material may be a ceramic material.

A mold includes a weld cavity, housings for the components to be welded, a crucible-funnel in communication with the weld cavity for housing filling material, at least one additional cavity for housing an exothermic mixture; and an inner shell that separates the crucible-funnel and the at least one additional cavity to transmit heat produced in the exothermic reaction from the additional cavity to the crucible-funnel. The mold allows the exothermic mixture to be isolated to avoid contact with the filling material and to prevent the filling material from reaching the weld cavity. The system can further include a first filler and a second filler, arranged to be mounted over the mold for introducing the filling material and the exothermic mixture, respectively.

A spacer grid welding fixture comprises a frame sized to receive an assembled spacer grid comprising a first set of parallel straps and a second set of parallel straps oriented orthogonally to the first set of parallel straps, the first and second sets of parallel straps interlocked together by slots cut into the straps. A first set of grid engagement bars is placed on a first side of the spacer grid with each grid engagement bar arranged parallel with the straps of the first set of parallel straps and engaging the straps of the second set of parallel straps. A second set of grid engagement bars is placed on an opposite second side of the spacer grid with each grid engagement bar arranged parallel with the straps of the second set of parallel straps and engaging the straps of the first set of parallel straps.

A fitting holding device holds an olet fitting in place while tack welding the olet fitting to a pipe. The device includes an elongated rectangular handle with a gripping section and a tapered section. A first rod straight rod extends from the handle. A second rod extends from the handle having a first section is coplanar with the first rod, a second section coplanar with respect to the first section and skewed relative to the first rod, a third section coplanar with the second section and the first section and transverse relative to the first rod defining a gap to engage and hold an olet fitting. A cuff is slidable along a length of the first rod and the first section to adjust tension on the olet fitting positioned between the first rod and the third section of the second rod.

Strip cladding heads having strip pressure limits and strip cladding systems with strip cladding heads having strip pressure limits are disclosed are disclosed. A disclosed example cladding head for a strip cladding system includes a first contact jaw comprising first and second contacts to deliver welding power to a cladding strip that is driven between the first and second contacts, a first contact pressure adjuster to set a first pressure applied by the first and second contacts to the cladding strip, and a first strip lock preventer to limit the first pressure applied by the first and second contacts to the cladding strip to less than a threshold pressure.

A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. The liquid portion couples to at least some of the second powder and subsequently solidifies to provide a composite component.

An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved structure formation, part creation and manipulation, use of multiple additive manufacturing systems, and high throughput manufacturing methods suitable for automated or semi-automated factories are also disclosed.

A clamping tool includes a strut having one end and defining a longitudinal axis. Arranged on the one end of the strut is a mount which includes a bushing that is arranged on the strut. The bushing includes recesses and a receptacle which interacts with the recesses so as to be rotatably mounted in the bushing. The bushing has an interior provided with at least one groove for receiving an O-ring which is sized to extend beyond the groove to inhibit a rotational mobility of the receptacle. A clamping device is received in the receptacle of the mount and configured to swing about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strut.