A device for positioning at least two joining parts during a welding process includes a support element. The support element has a surface on which for the joining parts are positioned, a recess under the joining parts when a joining region of the joining parts are on the surface, and a fluid connection for supplying a fluid to the recess. When fluid in the recess is pressurized, during a welding process to connect the joining parts a weld melt is supported by the positive pressure.

A device for positioning at least two joining parts during a welding process includes a support element. The support element has a surface on which for the joining parts are positioned, a recess under the joining parts when a joining region of the joining parts are on the surface, and a fluid connection for supplying a fluid to the recess. When fluid in the recess is pressurized, during a welding process to connect the joining parts a weld melt is supported by the positive pressure.

An orientation and guide mechanism for a welding system includes a pair of opposed guide members. A weld wire having a non-round cross-section is fed through a guide passageway formed between the guide members, each of which have recessed channels that combine to define the guide passageway. The guide passageway has a non-round shape corresponding to the non-round shape of the wire. The orientation mechanism and the guide members thereof is adjustable relative to a welding device of the weld system, such that the orientation of the wire can be controlled and maintained by adjusting the orientation mechanism. The wide side of the wire may be adjusted to be presented to a radiant energy source, and/or the non-round wire may be adjusted relative to the desired weld seam.

A system to attach valve seat inserts to an aluminum cylinder head of an automobile vehicle includes a cylinder head of an automobile vehicle engine having a valve seat portion. A valve seat insert is positioned in the valve seat portion of the cylinder head. A fusion bond is created between the valve seat insert and the valve seat portion by laser welding thereby fusing the valve seat insert to the valve seat portion.

A system to attach valve seat inserts to an aluminum cylinder head of an automobile vehicle includes a cylinder head of an automobile vehicle engine having a valve seat portion. A valve seat insert is positioned in the valve seat portion of the cylinder head. A fusion bond is created between the valve seat insert and the valve seat portion by laser welding thereby fusing the valve seat insert to the valve seat portion.

A method for laser keyhole welding is disclosed to weld two pieces together made of a metal alloy. The method independently adjusts power in a focused center beam and power in a concentric focused annular beam. At the termination of a weld, the power of the annular beam is reduced, motion of the focused beams is stopped, the power of the center beam is increased, and the power of both beams is initially ramped down rapidly and then ramped down slowly. Increasing the power of the center beam equalizes the temperature of both pieces prior to solidification and cooling at the termination of the weld. An additional pulse of power may be applied to prevent the formation of defects or to erase any defects.

A method for laser keyhole welding is disclosed to weld two pieces together made of a metal alloy. The method independently adjusts power in a focused center beam and power in a concentric focused annular beam. At the termination of a weld, the power of the annular beam is reduced, motion of the focused beams is stopped, the power of the center beam is increased, and the power of both beams is initially ramped down rapidly and then ramped down slowly. Increasing the power of the center beam equalizes the temperature of both pieces prior to solidification and cooling at the termination of the weld. An additional pulse of power may be applied to prevent the formation of defects or to erase any defects.

A fixture assembly for supporting a plurality of blanks during a shearing and welding operation. The fixture assembly includes a base frame. A rotating frame is rotatably connected to the base frame. A fixed block is fixed to the rotating frame for supporting a first blank. A moveable block is moveably connected to the rotating frame for supporting a second blank. A first clamp is provided for coupling the first blank to the fixed block. A second clamp is provided for coupling the second blank to the moveable block. A vertical actuator is coupled with the rotating frame and configured to move the moveable block in a vertical direction being perpendicular to a plane of the rotating frame for moving the second blank. A horizontal actuator is coupled with the rotating frame and configured to move the moveable block in a horizontal direction.

Provided is a semiconductor module including: a layered substrate on which a semiconductor chip is provided; and a connection terminal including a connection portion connected to the layered substrate, wherein the connection portion includes at least one ultrasonic connection section, and at least one laser-welded section, at least a portion of which is provided at a location other than a location at which the ultrasonic connection section is provided. The at least one ultrasonic connection section may be provided to be closer to the leading end of the connection portion than the at least one laser-welded section is.

A cutting blade for vegetation is provided for example for use in a straw chopper or rotary mower. The blade body includes a first base material and at least one hard surface bead formed on at least one surface of the base material extending up to a cutting edge of the base material. Beads can be applied longitudinally by the heat energy from the cladding laser system to form pockets so that the blade is serrated by the pockets when supplied with additional wear increasing the pockets to maintain the serrations. The chamfered side face of the blade body forming the cutting edge can also be formed using heat energy from the same laser cutting and cladding system.