A machine tool includes a first machining head which is configured to support a wire such that a tip end of the wire is exposed from the first machining head and via which a molten material produced from the tip end is provided to the workpiece supported by a table, a second machining head configured to support a tool to cut the workpiece, a power supply configured to supply a current to the wire, a conduction block disposed on the table to detect a position of the tip end, a drive device configured to relatively move the first machining head with respect to the table to bring the tip end of the wire into contact with the conduction block, and a first electric circuit configured to be changed from an open state to a closed state by bringing the tip end into contact with the conduction block.

An assembly and joining table with weld splatter protection features are disclosed along with systems and methods for operating the same in at least partially automated fashion. The table includes holders positioned about platform providing a work surface. Parts are placed within certain of the holders for joining to create an assembly. The holders include conductive surfaces and recessed channels for wiring. A first end of each channel is located adjacent to a respective conductive surface, a second end is located below the respective conductive surface, and a continuous passageway with a plurality of turns extends between the first and second ends. A controller may operate motors of the table and command operations of robots for material handling and/or joining and a machine vision system to adjustably automate assembly.

Methods, machines, and computer program products are disclosed for determining the influence of a laser processing parameter on a laser processing operation by means of a laser beam are described. The methods include conducting linear laser processing operations with different values of the laser processing parameter, the speed of advance of the laser beam, respectively, being increased in the laser processing operations at least to such an extent that a processing interruption occurs; and determining a relationship between the processing lengths, the associated processing times, or the associated interruption speeds of the laser processing operations and the laser processing parameter using the measured processing lengths, the associated processing times, or the associated interruption speeds of the laser processing operations.

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.

A frame for a laser processing module can be characterized as including a platform having an upper surface and a lower surface, an optics bridge spaced apart from, and extending over, the upper surface of the platform and a bridge support interposed between, and coupled to, the platform and the optics bridge. At least one selected from the group consisting of the platform and the optics bridge includes a sandwich panel. The sandwich panel can include a first plate, a second plate and a core interposed between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate and the second plate can be indirectly attached to one another by the core and the core can define at least one channel extending between the first plate and the second plate. The sandwich panel can also include a first port formed at an exterior of the sandwich panel and in fluid communication with the at least one channel, and a second port formed at the exterior of the sandwich panel and in fluid communication with the at least one channel.

A plasma torch moves to a piercing position. The plasma torch generates a plasma arc and starts a piercing step at the piercing position. Whether the piercing step is completed is determined based on the arc voltage. The plasma torch is held at the piercing position in the horizontal direction from the start of the piercing step until the completion of the piercing step. The plasma torch is moved in a predetermined direction including at least the horizontal direction after the piercing step is completed.

A welder containing a weld part, a clamp and a number of tools that is for welding metal wires end-to-end to one another. The tools have a tool indicator that is either in complete or in non-complete condition, and can be processing tools used to finish the weld or testing tools allowing testing the weld once finished. Before starting the welding the first metal wire is held in the clamp. By that action all tool indicators are set to the non-complete condition. When a processing tool has been used, its processing tool indicator is set to complete. When the weld has passed the specification of a testing tool, the testing tool indicator is set to complete. When each processing and testing tool indicator is set to complete the clamp will open. In this case it is sure that the operator has done all necessary steps and checks on the weld.

Disclosed is a method for loading a sheet placement device of a flat bed machine tool with a material sheet, wherein the material sheet is supplied to the machining operation carried out by the flat bed machine tool, starting from a target position assigned to the machining operation in a machine coordinate system, and the flat bed machine tool comprises a camera system having at least one camera. The camera system is designed to produce captured images of the sheet placement device, which are calibrated three-dimensionally in relation to the machine coordinate system of the flat bed machine tool. The method comprises the steps: producing a captured image of the material sheet in the region of the sheet placement device; evaluating the captured image to determine an actual sheet position in the machine coordinate system; measuring a deviation of the determined actual sheet position from the target position; and using the measured deviation to align and position the material sheet.

This joining apparatus, which is a joining component manufacturing apparatus, comprises a pressing-force-applying means that applies a pressing force for pressing a second joining part that is formed on a second workpiece toward a first joining part that is formed on a first workpiece. The joining apparatus is provided with a laser light irradiation device that irradiates a site where the first joining part and the second joining part are brought close together with laser light. The pressing-force-applying means and the laser light irradiation device move as an integrated unit along the direction of extension of the first joining part and the second joining part due to a movement device.

In a metal laminating and modeling method, a three-dimensional modeled object 10 having a main surface 12 and an outer circumferential surface 13 is modeled by sequentially laminating a plurality of metal layers 11m. The metal laminating and modeling method has a metal layer formation step of forming the metal layers 11m by forming a plurality of weld beads 100 so as to be arranged in a horizontal direction on a table 2, and a first end portion weld bead formation step of inclining the table 2 such that a target surface 2f faces in a first inclination direction and forming first end portion weld beads 100a so as to overlap, among a plurality of center weld beads 100c, the center weld beads 100c located at an uppermost end in a vertical direction Dv.