Tube forming methods can be used for efficient transition in the production of tubes having varying thickness. Material used to form consecutive tubes may have the same thickness along a separation plane separating a first discrete section from a second discrete section of the material, and the first discrete section and the second discrete section may each have varying thickness in a feed direction of the material. With such a thickness profile, the first discrete section of the material may be formed into a first cylinder having varying thickness and separated from the second discrete portion as the second discrete section is formed into a second cylinder having varying thickness. In particular, the transition between the first cylinder and the second cylinder may be achieved without scrap and/or interruption, resulting in cost-savings and improvements in production throughput associated with forming tubes having varying thickness.

A high temperature iron-chromium-aluminium (FeCrAl) alloy tube extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the tube is formed from a continuous strip of a high temperature FeCrAl alloy and comprises a helical welded seam. The high temperature FeCrAl alloy tube is manufactured by feeding a continuous strip of the high temperature FeCrAl alloy toward a tube shaping station, helically winding the strip such that long edges of the strip abut each other and a rotating tube moving forward in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis is formed, and continuously joining said abutting long edges together in a welding process directly when the tube is formed, whereby a welded tube comprising a helical welded seam is obtained.

A high temperature iron-chromium-aluminium (FeCrAl) alloy tube extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the tube is formed from a continuous strip of a high temperature FeCrAl alloy and comprises a helical welded seam. The high temperature FeCrAl alloy tube is manufactured by feeding a continuous strip of the high temperature FeCrAl alloy toward a tube shaping station, helically winding the strip such that long edges of the strip abut each other and a rotating tube moving forward in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis is formed, and continuously joining said abutting long edges together in a welding process directly when the tube is formed, whereby a welded tube comprising a helical welded seam is obtained.

A high temperature iron-chromium-aluminium (FeCrAl) alloy tube extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the tube is formed from a continuous strip of a high temperature FeCrAl alloy and comprises a helical welded seam. The high temperature FeCrAl alloy tube is manufactured by feeding a continuous strip of the high temperature FeCrAl alloy toward a tube shaping station, helically winding the strip such that long edges of the strip abut each other and a rotating tube moving forward in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis is formed, and continuously joining said abutting long edges together in a welding process directly when the tube is formed, whereby a welded tube comprising a helical welded seam is obtained.

Tube forming methods can be used for efficient transition in the production of tubes having varying thickness. Material used to form consecutive tubes may have the same thickness along a separation plane separating a first discrete section from a second discrete section of the material, and the first discrete section and the second discrete section may each have varying thickness in a feed direction of the material. With such a thickness profile, the first discrete section of the material may be formed into a first cylinder having varying thickness and separated from the second discrete portion as the second discrete section is formed into a second cylinder having varying thickness. In particular, the transition between the first cylinder and the second cylinder may be achieved without scrap and/or interruption, resulting in cost-savings and improvements in production throughput associated with forming tubes having varying thickness.

A turbine housing assembly can include a turbine housing that defines a rotational axis for a turbine wheel; and a cartridge receivable by the turbine housing, where the cartridge includes spacer posts and a plate component that includes spacer post openings, where the spacer posts are laser beam welded into the spacer post openings to form laser beam welds to define an axial vane clearance between the plate component and a surface of the turbine housing contacted by ends of the spacer posts, and where each of the laser beam welds includes a power ramp-up area, an intermediate area and a power ramp-down area, where the power ramp-down area curves away from the power ramp-up area to reduce weld defects.

Tube forming methods can be used for efficient transition in the production of tubes having varying thickness. Material used to form consecutive tubes may have the same thickness along a separation plane separating a first discrete section from a second discrete section of the material, and the first discrete section and the second discrete section may each have varying thickness in a feed direction of the material. With such a thickness profile, the first discrete section of the material may be formed into a first cylinder having varying thickness and separated from the second discrete portion as the second discrete section is formed into a second cylinder having varying thickness. In particular, the transition between the first cylinder and the second cylinder may be achieved without scrap and/or interruption, resulting in cost-savings and improvements in production throughput associated with forming tubes having varying thickness.

Methods for forming vias in glass substrates by laser drilling and acid etching are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method forming a via in a glass substrate includes laser drilling the via through at least a portion of a thickness of the glass substrate from an incident surface of the glass substrate. The method further includes etching the glass substrate for an etching duration to increase a diameter of an incident opening of the via and applying ultrasonic energy to the glass substrate during at least a portion of the etching duration. The applied ultrasonic energy has a frequency between 40 kHz and 192 kHz.

Methods for forming vias in glass substrates by laser drilling and acid etching are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method forming a via in a glass substrate includes laser drilling the via through at least a portion of a thickness of the glass substrate from an incident surface of the glass substrate. The method further includes etching the glass substrate for an etching duration to increase a diameter of an incident opening of the via and applying ultrasonic energy to the glass substrate during at least a portion of the etching duration. The applied ultrasonic energy has a frequency between 40 kHz and 192 kHz.

A turbine housing assembly is disclosed, the assembly including a turbine housing defining a rotational axis for a turbine wheel. The assembly further includes a cartridge that is receivable by the turbine housing, the cartridge including spacer posts and a plate component that includes spacer post openings. The spacer posts may be laser beam welded into the spacer post openings to form laser beam welds as well as define an axial vane clearance between the plate component and a surface of the turbine housing. The turbine housing is further contacted by ends of the spacer posts. Each of the laser beam welds includes a power ramp-up area, an intermediate area and a power ramp-down area, where the power ramp-down area curves away from the power ramp-up area to reduce weld defects.