The linear groove formation method includes a resist forming process of forming a coated resist on a surface of a steel sheet, a laser irradiating process of irradiating laser beams onto the steel sheet while repeating a laser scanning in a direction intersecting a rolling direction of the steel sheet cyclically in the rolling direction of the steel sheet to remove the coated resist in portions irradiated with the laser beams, and an etching process of forming linear grooves by etching portions of the steel sheet from which the coated resist is removed. In the laser irradiating process, the coated resist is removed by using two or more laser irradiating devices, with a certain irradiation energy, a certain beam diameter in a direction perpendicular to a laser scanning direction, and a certain incidence angle with respect to the surface of the steel sheet.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

A laser cutting device comprises: a conveying mechanism (1) comprising a feeding end and a discharging end; a working platform (2) disposed at the discharging end of the conveying mechanism (1); a first counter (3) and a second counter (4) oppositely disposed at a side of the working platform (2) near the discharging end of the conveying mechanism (1) and driven respectively by two opposite side edges of a substrate (6) to rotate for counting; a laser cutter (5) disposed above the working platform (2); a control device (13) for determining a modified cutting motion path of the laser cutter according to a set cutting path, and starting and ending times of counting values of the first counter (3) and second counter (4), and for controlling the laser cutter to cut the substrate (6) according to the modified cutting motion path.

Equipment for manufacturing a separator plate for a fuel cell comprises: a press which receives a conveyed first metal strip and second metal strip, vertically arranges the metal strips side by side, and forms patterns on each of the first metal strip and the second metal strip; a welding machine which overlaps the first metal strip and the second metal strip conveyed from the press, and integrally joins the metal strips by welding same in a state in which the patterns are aligned face-to-face with each other; and guide rolls which are arranged in front of and behind the press and guide the first metal strip so that the first metal strip is supplied to the welding machine at an overlapping position with the second metal strip after passing through the press at a position spaced vertically apart from the second metal strip.

Systems and methods are described for managing articles. The systems and methods described herein may comprise an example method for manufacturing an article. The systems and methods provides an end-to-end manufacturing value chain as a closed system and feedback loop.

Thin-film devices, for example electrochromic devices for windows, and methods of manufacturing are described. Particular focus is given to methods of patterning optical devices. Various edge deletion and isolation scribes are performed, for example, to ensure the optical device has appropriate isolation from any edge defects. Methods described herein apply to any thin-film device having one or more material layers sandwiched between two thin film electrical conductor layers. The described methods create novel optical device configurations.

A joining apparatus includes a pressor that cause the first joint target portion and the second joint target portion to butt against each other, a workpiece moving organizer that moves the first workpiece and the second workpiece along an extending direction of the first joint target portion and the second target portion, a separator that temporarily separates the first joint target portion and the second joint target portion from each other by deforming a part of a butting site between the first joint target portion and the second joint target portion; and a laser irradiator that irradiates a site at which the first joint target portion and the second joint target portion separated from each other approach each other again, with laser light on a downstream side of the separator in a moving direction of the first workpiece and the second workpiece.

An electrode manufacturing device for manufacturing an electrode includes: a first support unit having a plate shape extending along a plane and injecting a first pressurized fluid in a 1.sup.st-1.sup.st direction perpendicular to the plane; a second support unit having a plate shape extending along one plane, disposed to face the first support unit at a certain distance, and injecting a second pressurized fluid in a 1.sup.st-2.sup.nd direction opposite to the 1.sup.st-1.sup.st direction; a transfer unit configured to transfer an electrode having a sheet-shape in a direction of gravity and dispose a first area of the electrode between the first support unit and the second support unit; and a laser beam notching unit configured to notch and cut a portion of a second area of the electrode by irradiating a laser beam to the electrode in the 1.sup.st-1.sup.st direction.

A method and an apparatus for collecting powder samples in real-time in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing may involves an ingester system for in-process collection and characterizations of powder samples. The collection may be performed periodically and uses the results of characterizations for adjustments in the powder bed fusion process. The ingester system of the present disclosure is capable of packaging powder samples collected in real-time into storage containers serving a multitude purposes of audit, process adjustments or actions.

An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved chamber designs, multiple chambers, powder handling and re-use systems, and powder characterization methods are disclosed.