A joining method, etc., is provided, suitable for providing improved joining giving attention to the relation between a horn part and a joining member group. A joining machine performs joining of the joining member group (a first joining member and a second joining member). A horn part of a joining processing part applies sound vibration and/or ultrasound vibration to the joining member group via a buffer member. The horn part and the first joining member are each formed of metal. The buffer member has a greater softness than that of the metal that forms the horn part.

Structures for a tool surface of a downhole tool are constructed from a metal clay molded in a wet state. The wet state clay is a workable combination that can have a braze alloy grain, a tungsten carbide grain, and a binder. Additional cutting inserts can be embedded in the molded clay. Heat treatment applied to the molded metal clay causing the binder to be combusted and consumed. The braze alloy melts and then cools into a fused state with the tungsten carbide grain therein. The structure can affix to the tool surface of the tool by first being fused and then attached by brazing to the tool. Alternatively, the structure can be positioned in a fusible state adjacent the tool surface. When the heat treatment is applied, the structure fuses together and forms a metallurgical bond with the tool surface of the tool.

A method for stripping ceramic from a component includes applying a liquid to a ceramic coating of an outer surface of the component. The method also includes directing a plurality of laser pulses at the ceramic coating with the applied liquid in order to spall the ceramic coating from the component.

A laser processing method for cutting a base material, including stacked first and second layers having different thermal expansion coefficients, includes radiating laser light onto a first inter-layer part under prescribed first inter-layer conditions, to cut the first inter-layer part, which extends from a position in the vicinity of a layer boundary inward of the surface of the second layer, through the layer boundary between the second layer and the first layer, to a position in the vicinity of a layer boundary inward of said one surface of the first layer, and radiating the laser light onto a part of the first layer inward from the position in the vicinity of the layer boundary, under first conditions, to cut the first layer, wherein the first inter-layer condition is a condition under which the amount of heat input by the laser light is less than under the first condition.

Methods and compositions are provided for improving metal dusting corrosion, abrasion resistance and/or erosion resistance for various materials, preferably for applications relating to high-temperature reactors, including dense fluidized bed reactor components. In particular, cermets comprising (a) at least one ceramic phase selected from the group consisting of metal carbides, metal nitrides, metal borides, metal oxides, metal carbonitrides, and mixtures of thereof and (b) at least one metal alloy binder phase are provided. Ceramic phase materials include chromium carbide (Cr.sub.23C.sub.6). Metal alloy binder phase materials include β-NiAl intermetallic alloys and Ni.sub.3Sn.sub.2 intermetallic alloys, as well as alloys that contain α-Cr and/or γ′-Ni.sub.3Al hard phases. Preferably, bimetallic materials are provided when the cermet compositions are applied using a laser, e.g., a laser cladding method such as high power direct diode (HPDD) laser, or by plasma-based methods such as plasma transfer arc (PTA) welding and powder plasma welding (PPW).

The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.

The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.

A method for welding between two metallic plates, including: (a) fitting a solid plate without openings, configured to be transparent at at least one emission wavelength of a laser beam (F) emitted by a laser (L), between the laser (L) and at least one contact zone between the metallic plates to be welded; (a1) inerting of the contact zone via a netural gas, where the neutral gas circulates in channels delimited by the contact zone between the metallic plates and by the solid plate; (a2) exerting pressure on the two metallic plates to apply them against one another in the contact zone to be welded, where the application pressure is exerted by the solid plate directly in contact with one of the two metallic plates to be welded; and (b) emission of a laser beam, through the solid plate, to perform welding of the metallic plates in the contact zone.

A surgical instrument and related methods are described. The surgical instrument includes a first jaw including a first structural jaw element and a first sealplate fixed to the first structural jaw element and a second jaw including a second structural jaw element and a second sealplate fixed to the second structural jaw element. The second structural jaw element is moveably coupled to the first structural jaw element to facilitate pinching tissue between the first and second sealplates. The first and second sealplates are configured to facilitate sealing tissue pinched therebetween. The first jaw further includes a metallized tie layer between the first sealplate and the first structural jaw element, wherein the first sealplate is fixed to the first structural jaw element via a metal to metal joint between the first sealplate and the metallized tie layer.

A coated cutting tool includes a substrate with a rake side, a clearance side and a cutting edge, and a coating including a first layer and a second layer. The second layer includes an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the first layer is exposed through an opening in the inner layer and the opening extends over at least a portion of the width of the cutting edge. Thereby, a double layer is provided in critical areas, whereas a single layer is provided in other areas. Preferably, the double oxide layer includes aluminum oxide layers. A method for manufacturing the coated cutting tool is also provided.