A welding device with which two components can be pressed against each other comprises a static first section and a second section movable relative to the first section. At least one drive system is connected at a first end to the first section and at a second end to the second section, as well as at least one elastic guiding system by which the first section and the second section are connected to one another. The first section and the second section are movable relative to each other along only one axis due to at least one elastic guiding system, so that an axial length of the arrangement can be varied. A moving coil drive may be used or another drive without mechanical losses or with mechanical losses less than a clamping force to be applied during operation.

A press frame includes a lower press frame, an upper press frame that supports a press mechanism, and a vertical press frame. A laser frame includes a lower laser frame, an upper laser frame that supports a laser mechanism, and a vertical laser frame. A transport space for a workpiece in the press frame and a transport space for the workpiece in the laser frame communicate with each other, the transportation in the spaces being performed by a transporter. The upper laser frame includes a joint extending from the vertical laser frame toward the upper press frame side while being spaced from the upper press frame, and that switches between a connected state where the upper press frame and an end of the upper laser frame are connected and a separated state where the connection therebetween is released.

A sheet metal working system includes a laser machining apparatus for processing a sheet metal in a laser machining region, a camera for photographing the laser machining region, an illuminator for illuminating the sheet metal, and circuitry configured to process an image photographed by the camera. The laser machining apparatus includes a sheet metal support member having a plate shape, the sheet metal support member having a plurality of elongated projections arranged in a first direction in a laser machining region. The sheet metal is disposed on the plurality of elongated projections. The camera is arranged such that the optical axis of the camera is oriented substantially parallel to the first direction when viewed in the height direction of the laser machining apparatus. The circuitry detects a bright region in the image as a machining available area of the sheet metal.

A cutting apparatus comprising a cutting table and a first cutting material belt movably supported about the cutting table about a first roller and a second roller. A second cutting material belt is removably supported above the first cutting material belt about the first roller and a third roller, wherein the second roller is intermediate the first roller and the second roller.

A method for dithering can include receiving, at a computer numerically controlled machine comprising a laser, a motion plan corresponding to a first image. The output of the laser can be dithered, in accordance with the motion plan, to effect a change in a material within an interior space of the computer numerically controlled machine. The change can substantially reproduce at least a portion of the first image on the material. The dithering can include providing laser energy to the material at a native resolution based at least on a spot size of the laser. The spot size can be determined based at least on one or more parameters of the computer numerically controlled machine and/or one or more properties of the material. The laser energy can be delivered at locations separated by a distance no less than the spot size.

There is provided a chuck table for holding a workpiece under suction. The chuck table includes a base table having a suction path to be connected to a suction source, a support member that is mounted on the base table and supports the workpiece, and a protective plate disposed so as to cover an upper surface of the support member and to protect the support member. The protective plate has a plurality of through-holes that transmits a suction force from the suction source to the workpiece.

An example welding system includes: a downdraft table having: a work surface; and a suction source configured to create a negative pressure through at least one of the work surface or a second surface adjacent to the work surface; and a positive pressure source configured to direct a positive pressure airflow around at least a portion of a periphery of the downdraft table.

A three-dimensional laser cutter can be disposed in a machining room. The machining room includes a ceiling and a plate member. The ceiling is provided with a suction port connected to a suction device. The plate member is disposed below the ceiling with a gap therebetween. The plate member forms a space with the ceiling.

The invention provides a machine tool (100) having a work table (105) for mounting at least one workpiece (105A), a laser head (101) having a powder nozzle (106) for applying a material to the workpiece and for welding the material to the workpiece (105A), a laser head positioning device for positioning the laser head with respect to the workpiece in order to machine the workpiece (105A) by application and welding of the applied material, an inert gas device (108), fillable with inert gas, for machining the workpiece (105A) by way of the laser head (101) under an inert gas atmosphere, and a positioning device for moving and positioning the inert gas device (108) on the work table (105), said machine tool (100) allowing flexible machining in the scope of subtractive and additive steps of machining a workpiece on a machine tool.

A processing apparatus is equipped with: a first stage system that has a table on which a workpiece is placed and moves the workpiece held by the table; a beam irradiation system that includes a condensing optical system to emit beams; and a controller to control the first stage system and the beam irradiation system, and processing is performed to a target portion of the workpiece while the table and the beams from the condensing optical system are relatively moved, and at least one of an intensity distribution of the beams at a first plane on an exit surface side of the condensing optical system and an intensity distribution of the beams at a second plane whose position in a direction of an optical axis of the condensing optical system is different from the first plane can be changed.