A beam homogenizer for surface modification comprises: a first lens array configured to split a laser beam, irradiated from a laser beam irradiation unit, into a plurality of beamlets; a second lens array configured to transmit the plurality of beamlets and comprising a plurality of lenslets corresponding to the first lens array; and a focusing lens configured to focus the plurality of beamlets, transmitted through the second lens array, onto a surface of a target. The beam homogenizer further comprises: a plasma generation-preventing unit disposed between the first and second lens arrays and configured to prevent plasma from being generated in the focal zone of the beamlets; or a damage-preventing unit disposed between the focusing lens and the target and configured to prevent the focusing lens from being damaged by energy generated when the plurality of beamlets is irradiated onto the target.

At least one coated valve seat region has at least one first layer and a second layer, the second layer is arranged on the first layer, and the first layer and the second layer are different. The first layer and the second layer are each formed by a local thermal deposition welding method. In the case of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, a valve seat region is formed by depositing a first layer on a substrate material of the valve seat by a laser deposition welding method in one method step and, in a subsequent method step, depositing a second layer on the first layer by a laser deposition welding method. The second layer contains a material which exerts a material hardening effect.

A method of cooling a component during laser cladding can include attaching a flow adapter to the component, flowing cooling fluid through the flow adapter, flowing the cooling fluid through the component during laser cladding. Attaching a flow adapter to the component can fluidly communicate at least one adapter channel to one or more component channels, and flowing cooling fluid through the at least one adapter channel can pass cooling fluid through the one or more component channels to cool the component during laser cladding. The method can include laser cladding the component.

Systems and methods for additive manufacturing, and, in particular, such methods and apparatus as employ pulsed lasers or other heating arrangements to create metal droplets from donor metal micro wires, which droplets, when solidified in the aggregate, form 3D structures. A supply of metal micro wire is arranged so as to be fed towards a nozzle area by a piezo translator. Near the nozzle, an end portion of the metal micro wire is heated (e.g., by a laser pulse or an electric heater element), thereby causing the end portion of the metal micro wire near the nozzle area to form a droplet of metal. A receiving substrate is positioned to receive the droplet of metal jetted from the nozzle area.

Deterioration of a shaped object is prevented. There is provided an optical processing nozzle including an optical system in which a condensing point is adjusted to a processing point, a first set of fluid mixture discharge pipes that discharges, to the processing point, a material/purge gas fluid mixture obtained by mixing a purge gas in a powder processing material, and a second set of purge gas discharge pipes that discharges a purge gas having a purge function to the first set of fluid mixture discharge pipes, each of the fluid mixture discharge pipes of the first set being associated with each of the purge gas discharge pipes of the second set.

An electromagnetic radiation steering mechanism An electromagnetic radiation steering mechanism configured to steer electromagnetic radiation to address a specific location within a two-dimensional field of view comprising a first optical element having an associated first actuator configured to rotate the first optical element about a first rotational axis to change a first coordinate of a first steering axis in the two-dimensional field of view, a second optical element having an associated second actuator configured to rotate the second optical element about a second rotational axis to change a second coordinate of a second steering axis in the two-dimensional field of view, and an electromagnetic radiation manipulator optically disposed between the first and second optical elements. A first angle is defined between the first and second rotational axes and a second angle is defined between the first and second steering axes. The electromagnetic radiation manipulator is configured to introduce a difference between the first angle and the second angle.

A method for use in additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional workpiece is described. The method includes depositing material onto a substrate to form a shape of the workpiece in accordance with an additive manufacturing process; determining a thermal characteristic of at least a portion of the workpiece during the additive manufacturing process; determining that the thermal characteristic of at least the portion exceeds a threshold associated with the portion; adjusting a cooling parameter of a cooling flow to be applied to the workpiece responsive to determining that the thermal characteristic of at least the portion exceeds the threshold associated with the portion; and applying the cooling flow with the adjusted cooling parameter to at least the portion of the workpiece.

A processing apparatus has: a light irradiation apparatus that irradiates a surface of an object with a plurality of processing lights; and a first change apparatus that changes an intensity distribution of the plurality of processing lights from the light irradiation apparatus on the surface of the object, the processing apparatus changes a thickness of a part of the object by irradiating the surface of the object with the plurality of processing lights.

A gas supply device for a laser machining head is provided for generating a homogeneous gas flow. The gas supply device includes a gas inlet, a shared volume for superimposing a laser beam and the gas flow, and a gas channel system which, starting from the gas inlet, branches at least twice and connects the gas inlet with several outlet openings at the shared volume. The gas channel system and the outlet openings are configured to provide a substantially homogeneous gas flow to the shared volume.

A processing apparatus has: a light irradiation apparatus that irradiates a surface of an object with a processing light; and a measurement apparatus that measures a position of an irradiation area, which is formed on the surface of the object by the light irradiation apparatus, relative to the object.