A method for treating a raw-material powder includes forming a layer of the raw-material powder and removing oxide film formed on a surface of the raw-material powder from which the layer has been formed.

A controlling apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: obtain a file comprising an image to be marked on a surface; analyze the image to be marked on the surface and determine one or more continuous areas of the image having the same fill color and on colors in the image; obtain information on the quality and thickness of the surface of the object to be marked; determine order in which the areas of the image with different colors are to be marked; determine on the basis of the determined and obtained information parameters for a laser marking apparatus separately for each area of the image with different colors; and store determined parameters in a marking file.

A laser irradiation apparatus (1) according to an embodiment includes an optical-system module (20) configured to apply laser light (L1) to an object to be irradiated, a shield plate (51) in which a slit (54) is formed, through which the laser light (L1) passes, and a reflected-light receiving component (61) disposed between the optical-system module (20) and the shield plate (51), in which the reflected-light receiving component (61) is able to receive, out of the laser light (L1), reflected light (R1) reflected by the shield plate (51).

A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method can include providing an enclosure surrounding a powder bed and having an atmosphere including helium gas. A high flux laser beam is directed at a defined two dimensional region of the powder bed. Powder is melted and fused within the defined two dimensional region, with less than 50% by weight of the powder particles being displaced into any defined two dimensional region that shares an edge or corner with the defined two dimensional region where powder melting and fusing occurs.

A solid freeform manufacturing system includes a manufacturing chamber containing a powder based additive manufacturing device. The manufacturing chamber is connected to an environmental control chamber. The environmental control chamber contains environmental control devices including fans, filters, and an inert gas source. An interconnection between the environmental control chamber and manufacturing chamber allows an inert, contaminant free manufacturing environment.

A modular laser processing enclosure includes an enclosure housing defining a laser processing area. The enclosure housing includes a top defining a top laser processing access opening providing access to the laser processing area and at least two sides defining side laser processing access openings providing access to the laser processing area. The side laser processing access openings may be located proximate the top of the enclosure housing. The enclosure may further include at least one plate configured to cover any one of the laser processing access openings. Optionally, at least one laser processing head may be configured to be mounted to any one of the laser processing access openings and/or a least one part handling mechanism may be provided to access the laser processing area through any one of the laser processing access openings for delivering parts to and/or from the laser processing area.

A gas mixing apparatus for a laser cutter and a laser cutter including that apparatus. The mixing apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber, first and second inlet ports opening into the chamber at an obtuse angle to each other, and an outlet port. A hollow lance mounted in the first inlet port conducts a first gas into the chamber. In some embodiments, a gas sensor is in fluid communication with the chamber; and an adjustable pressure regulator is responsive to the gas sensor and is in fluid communication with the first inlet port to control the first gas as it mixes with a second gas flowing into the chamber through the second inlet port to maintain a predetermined ratio of the first gas to the second gas and thereby provide an assist gas. In some applications, a laser cutting head is in fluid communication with the output port to receive the assist gas.

The present invention relates to a laser machining system (1) with a control unit (30), a laser ablation apparatus (10) and a gas supply (40), wherein the laser ablation apparatus (10) comprises a laser (12) for generating a laser beam (14), a laser head (16) including a re-directing arrangement (18) for directing the laser beam (14) of the laser (12) onto a surface (20) of a workpiece (22) to be machined, wherein the workpiece (22) is disposed in an accommodation device (26), placed in a working chamber (28), wherein a positioning arrangement (32) is provided for a relative movement between the laser head (16) and the workpiece (22) and wherein the working chamber (28) comprises at least one inlet (46) and at least one outlet (48) for a gas. The gas supply (40) of the laser machining system (1) is configured to provide a flow of the gas in the working chamber (28) and a temperature system (11) is provided to adjust the temperature of the gas flow (44).

Methods for aligning a pair of calibrated lasers of a laser additive manufacturing system in an overlap region in which the pair of calibrated lasers selectively operate are provided. Respective first and second plurality of layers of a test structure are formed in the overlap region of the pair of calibrated lasers solely using a first calibrated laser of the pair of calibrated lasers and then solely using a second calibrated laser of the pair of calibrated lasers. The test structure forming creates an outer surface of the test structure corresponding to the overlap region. A dimension(s) of an offset step(s) created between the first plurality of layers and the second plurality of lasers in the outer surface of the test structure is/are measured. The lasers are aligned by applying the dimension(s) of the offset step(s) as an alignment correction(s) to at least one of the pair of calibrated lasers.

A method for manufacturing an electrical storage device disclosed herein includes assembling including mounting a sealing plate to an opening of a case body, shielding including providing a shielding portion between a resin member and a peripheral edge portion of the sealing plate, and laser welding the case body and the sealing plate including irradiating the sealing plate with laser light along the peripheral edge portion of the sealing plate in a state where the shielding portion is provided, and in performing the laser welding, while an assist gas is supplied to a portion around the shielding portion, the portion is irradiated with the laser light.