This disclosure describes various methods and apparatus for characterizing an additive manufacturing process. A method for characterizing the additive manufacturing process can include generating scans of an energy source across a build plane; measuring an amount of energy radiated from the build plane during each of the scans using an optical sensing system that monitors two discrete wavelengths associated with a blackbody radiation curve of the layer of powder; determining temperature variations for an area of the build plane traversed by the scans based upon a ratio of sensor readings taken at the two discrete wavelengths; determining that the temperature variations are outside a threshold range of values; and thereafter, adjusting subsequent scans of the energy source across or proximate the area of the build plane.

A ball for a ball valve, wherein the ball comprises a substrate of metal having surface modified portions to act as seating surfaces for a seat of the ball valve; and a seat ring for a ball valve, wherein the seat ring comprises a substrate of metal having a surface modified portion to act as a seating surface for a ball of the ball valve.

A method of joining a first component to a second component at respective connection surfaces, comprising, in order, applying a local surface treatment to the connection surface of at least one of the first and second components in order to locally alter the microstructure to a depth of between 60 μm and 10 mm below the connection surface; and joining the first component to the second component using a welding process.

An embodiment relates to an ultrasonic additive manufacturing process, comprising joining a foil comprising a bulk metallic glass to a substrate; and forming a cladded composite comprising the foil and the substrate; wherein a thickness of the cladded composite is greater than a critical casting thickness of the bulk metallic glass, wherein the cladded composite comprises a cladding layer of the bulk metallic glass on the substrate and the bulk metallic glass comprises approximately 0% crystallinity, approximately 0% porosity, less than 50 MPa thermal stress, approximately 0% distortion, approximately 0 inch heat affected zone, approximately 0% dilution, and a strength of about 2,000-3,500 MPa.

The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.

Provided is a joining method that can prevent a plastic flowing material from flowing out from a butt section and that can reduce the thickness and weight of metal members. The joining method is for joining a first metal member and a second metal member by using a rotary tool comprising a stirring pin, and is characterized in that: the stirring pin comprises a flat surface perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary tool and comprises a protruding section protruding from the flat face; and in a friction stirring step, the flat surface is brought into contact with the first metal member and the second metal member, and a front end face of the protruding section is inserted deeper than an upper overlapping section to join an upper front butt section and the upper overlapping section.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for composite-to-metal hybrid bonded structures compromising the laser surface treatment on titanium alloys to promote adhesive bond performance. For example, a computer may be programmed to set a laser path corresponding to a predetermined geometric pattern. A laser may be coupled to the computer and apply a pulsed laser beam to a contact surface of the titanium alloy along the predefined geometric pattern. The laser may generate an open pore oxide layer on the contact surface of the substrate with a thickness of 100 and 500 nm. The open pore oxide layer may have a topography corresponding to the predefined geometric pattern. The topography may contain high degree of open pore structure and promote adhesive bond performance. Adhesive, primer or composite resin matrix may fully infiltrate into the open pore structures. Adhesive and composite laminate may co-cure to form composite-to-titanium hybrid bonded structures.

Various implementations of a system for friction based additive manufacturing include a tool head that includes a central axis, a first end, and a second end opposite and spaced apart from the first end along the central axis. The tool head defines a feed channel that extends between openings defined by the first end and the second end. The opening defined by the second end is offset from the central axis of the tool head. The tool head is configured for rotating about the central axis. The system also includes an actuator that is configured to urge a feed material through the feed channel in a direction from the first end to the second end. The second end of the tool head is configured for being disposed adjacent a substrate onto which the feed material is being friction stir deposited.

The present disclosure provides a printer system based on high power, high brightness visible laser source for improved resolution and printing speeds. Visible laser devices based on high power visible laser diodes can be scaled using the stimulated Raman scattering process to create a high power, high brightness visible laser source.

A method using femtosecond laser for nano precision preparation. Initial damage nanoholes formed by using femtosecond laser multiphoton excitation are used as a seed structure, and the energy and polarization state of subsequent laser pulses are adjusted in real time, such that uniform and directional optical near-field enhancement is generated near the seed structure and finally the high-precision removal of machined materials is realized. Benefiting from the high localization of near-field spot energy in space, the method uses femtosecond laser pulses having the wavelength of 800 nm to achieve a machining accuracy having the minimum linewidth of only 18 nm, and the linewidth resolution reaches 1/40 of the wavelength; and the method using femtosecond laser for nano precision preparation does not need a vacuum environment, having good air/solution machining compatibility.