A light weight component, the light weight component including: a metallic foam core formed into a desired configuration; an external metallic shell applied to an exterior surface of the metallic foam core after it has been formed into the desired configuration; an inlet opening and an outlet opening formed in the external metallic shell in order to provide a fluid path through the metallic foam core; and a thermoplastic material injected into the metallic foam core via the inlet opening.

A laser deposition apparatus includes a sealed enclosure configured to hold a substrate, a powder source configured to hold a powder material, a peen source configured to hold a shot peen media, and a deposition system fluidly connected to the powder source and the peen source. The deposition system includes a laser configured to generate a laser beam. The deposition system is configured to deposit at least one layer on the substrate by injecting a stream of the powder material into the laser beam. The deposition system is configured to shot peen the at least one layer by propelling the shot peen media onto an exterior surface of the at least one layer.

The present application relates to a composite material and a method for producing the same, which can provide a composite material having excellent impact resistance or processability and pore characteristics while having excellent heat dissipation performance, and a method for producing the composite material.

A three-dimensional shaped article production method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article by stacking layers to form a stacked body includes a constituent layer formation step of forming a constituent layer which corresponds to a constituent region of the three-dimensional shaped article, a support layer formation step of forming a support layer which is in contact with the constituent layer and supports the constituent layer, and a sintering step of sintering the constituent layer, wherein the support layer is configured such that as compared with the volume decrement accompanying the sintering step of a space surrounded by the constituent layer from at least two directions, the volume decrement accompanying the sintering step of the support layer which supports the constituent layer in the space is larger.

The present invention provides a metal foam production method that enables a foaming process to be performed at low cost and enables controlling of the shape of metal foam. According to the present invention, a mold that transmits light and a precursor prepared by mixing a metal with a foaming agent are used, and a metal foam is produced by irradiating the precursor with a light transmitted through the mold to thereby heat and foam the precursor so as to obtain a metal foam, while controlling the shape of the metal foam by the mold.

A process for assembling a device including first and second parts made of first and second materials, respectively, and a third part made of a third material that acts as an intermediate part enabling the assembling, the process including: providing a preform made from an at least partially amorphous metal material capable of increasing its volume under temperature and pressure conditions; placing the first and second parts with the preform between two cavity plates having, the negative shape of the device; heating the assembly to a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the crystallization temperature of the preform to enable, at latest during the heating, the preform to be in a form of a foam and enable expansion of the preform to fill the negative shape of the device and form the third part; cooling the assembly to solidify the preform and separate the device from the cavity plates.

Preform and manufacturing process producing heterogeneous components with a first fraction (11) made from a first metallic material and having a cellular structure with stochastic or regular cells, and a second fraction (12) made from a second metallic material different from the first metallic material, in which the second fraction (12) at least partly infiltrates the cells of the first fraction (11). The second fraction is poured into the preform which also acts as a mould. The finished product after machining may have a unified surface of the second fraction or several zones exposing the second fraction, the first fraction, the cellular structure which is open or infiltrated with the second metallic fraction, or open zones, in a predetermined design.

Contact device adapted to be inserted between two contact surfaces of two conductors of an electrical connection provided with at least one bolt, the device being formed by a metal foam plate to reduce electrical resistance of the connection. The surface area of the metal foam plate is at least equal to the surface area in contact with the two conductors, and is approximately 1 to 2 mm thick. The metal foam plate includes at least one circular opening intended to contain the bolt and at least one first pre-cut located between the opening and an outer edge of the contact device. The pre-cut is made by cutting the foam plate over a part of its thickness so that it can be easily broken along the pre-cut, the pre-cut allowing the bolt to be passed through it during the installation of the contact device.

Drill bits for use in drilling well bores in subterranean formations, and associated systems and methods of making and using such drill bits, are provided. In certain embodiments, the drill bits comprise: a body; a plurality of blades on the body; a plurality of cutting elements on at least one of the plurality of blades; a reinforcement material forming portions of the body and the plurality of blades; a binder material infiltrated through the reinforcement material to form a composite material and forming portions of the body and the plurality of blades; and at least one interior displacement element located in an interior region of the body that is surrounded by the composite material.

Drill bits for use in drilling well bores in subterranean formations, and associated systems and methods of making and using such drill bits, are provided. In certain embodiments, the drill bits comprise: a body; a plurality of blades on the body; a plurality of cutting elements on at least one of the plurality of blades; a reinforcement material forming portions of the body and the plurality of blades; a binder material infiltrated through the reinforcement material to form a composite material and forming portions of the body and the plurality of blades; and at least one interior displacement element located in an interior region of the body that is surrounded by the composite material.