In a method for producing a structured seed layer for carbon nanotubes to be deposited thereon, energy is applied by means of a laser beam to a metal layer previously applied to a substrate such that the metal layer is broken up into individual islands. The laser beam is expanded into a beam having a linear cross-section, and a linear exposure zone of the metal layer is simultaneously exposed to the expanded beam. The exposure zone is moved across the metal layer in a direction transverse to the length of the exposure zone. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a device for transporting a substrate with a metal layer applied thereto, a laser to produce a laser beam, and a device for expanding the laser beam to produce a linear exposure zone that extends perpendicularly to the direction in which the substrate is transported.

One aspect relates to a process for preparing a processed filament, including provision of a filament, including a segment. At least in the segment, the filament includes a core, including a first metal, a first layer which is superimposed on the core, and includes a polymer, and a second layer which is superimposed on the first layer, and includes a second metal. The segment of the filament is processed by interaction of the segment with at least one beam of electromagnetic radiation of a first kind. The electromagnetic radiation of the first kind has a spectrum with a peak wavelength in the range from 430 to 780 nm. Further, one aspect relates to a processed filament, obtainable by the process; a filament; an electrical device, including at least a part of the processed filament.

A device for cutting a web of material comprises movement means for moving a web of material to be cut, defining a feed path for the web at least partly rotatable about a central axis and equipped with at least one conveyor mounted around the central axis, at least one cutting head equipped with a laser source and an optical system configured to direct the laser beam towards a cutting zone, where the optical system of the cutting head comprises at least one directing member located inside the conveyor to direct the laser beam away from the central axis towards the cutting zone.

A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.

Provided is method of producing a glass roll, the method including: a conveying step of conveying a glass film (G) along a longitudinal direction thereof; a cutting step of irradiating the glass film (G) with a laser beam (L) from a laser irradiation apparatus (19) while conveying the glass film (G) by the conveying step, to thereby separate the glass film (G) into a non-product portion (Gc) and a product portion (Gd); and a take-up step of taking up the product portion (Gd) into a roll shape, to thereby form a glass roll (R). The cutting step includes winding a thread-like peeled material (Ge) generated from an end portion of the product portion (Gd) in a width direction around a rod-shaped collecting member (20a), to thereby collect the thread-like peeled material (Ge).

A method and an apparatus pertaining to recycling and reuse of unwanted light in additive manufacturing can multiplex multiple beams of light including at least one or more beams of light from one or more light sources. The multiple beams of light may be reshaped and blended to provide a first beam of light. A spatial polarization pattern may be applied on the first beam of light to provide a second beam of light. Polarization states of the second beam of light may be split to reflect a third beam of light, which may be reshaped into a fourth beam of light. The fourth beam of light may be introduced as one of the multiple beams of light to result in a fifth beam of light.

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.

Provided is a manufacturing method for a joint body having a blank material plated with a metal material and a hoop material plated with a metal material joined together by placing the hoop material on the blank material and causing a laser oscillation system to irradiate a surface of the hoop material with laser light to form a joint portion including a line-shaped welded portion where the blank material and the hoop material are joined together. In this manufacturing method, the hoop material is supplied to be placed on the blank material and form a predetermined gap d between the blank material and the hoop material, and the hoop material is irradiated with a laser at a position where the predetermined gap d is located between the blank material and the hoop material to join the blank material and the hoop material together by laser welding.

A method of additive manufacture suitable for large and high resolution structures is disclosed. The method may include sequentially advancing each portion of a continuous part in the longitudinal direction from a first zone to a second zone. In the first zone, selected granules of a granular material may be amalgamated. In the second zone, unamalgamated granules of the granular material may be removed. The method may further include advancing a first portion of the continuous part from the second zone to a third zone while (1) a last portion of the continuous part is formed within the first zone and (2) the first portion is maintained in the same position in the lateral and transverse directions that the first portion occupied within the first zone and the second zone.

A GDL cutting system of a fuel cell includes: a laser-cutting device that forms a gas diffusion layer by radiating a laser on the surface of a GDL fabric panel moving on a conveyer; an adsorbing-conveying device that adsorbs and conveys at least two gas diffusion layers cut by the laser-cutting device; a first vision sensor that senses an upper side of the gas diffusion layers cut by the laser-cutting device; and a second vision sensor that senses a lower side of the gas diffusion layers adsorbed and conveyed by the adsorbing-conveying device.