A system includes an orientation determination system comprising a camera where the camera is configured to capture an image of an orientation feature of a physical dental model of a dental arch of a customer with material thermoformed thereon. The orientation determination system is configured to identify an offset of the physical dental model with respect to a fixture plate during positioning or before or after the physical dental model is positioned on the fixture plate by determining an actual orientation of the physical dental model based on the orientation feature. The system also includes a laser trimming system configured to cut the material along a trim line based on the identified offset while the fixture plate is moved about at least two axes to produce a dental aligner specific to the customer and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the customer.

A method of forming a build in a powder bed includes providing a first diode laser fiber array and a second diode laser fiber array, emitting a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of the second diode laser fiber array onto the powder bed, corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build, simultaneously melting powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build, scanning a first diode laser fiber array along an outer boundary of the powder bed and emitting a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of the first diode laser fiber array and simultaneously melting powder in the powder bed corresponding to the outer boundary of the layer of the build to contour the layer of the build. An apparatus for forming a build in a powder bed including a first diode laser fiber array and a second diode laser fiber array is also disclosed. The first diode laser fiber array configured to contour the layer of the build.

A shift in position of a laser beam used for welding objects is corrected without need for intervention by a welder. An irradiator performs welding along a welding part of objects to be welded by relatively moving objects to be welded and a nozzle for emitting a laser beam. An arm apparatus movably holds the nozzle while applying a biasing force to the nozzle in a direction toward the welding part such that the nozzle comes into contact with objects to be welded to irradiate the welding part with the laser beam.

A shift in position of a laser beam used for welding objects is corrected without need for intervention by a welder. An irradiator performs welding along a welding part of objects to be welded by relatively moving objects to be welded and a nozzle for emitting a laser beam. An arm apparatus movably holds the nozzle while applying a biasing force to the nozzle in a direction toward the welding part such that the nozzle comes into contact with objects to be welded to irradiate the welding part with the laser beam.

An article includes a ceramic material and features a machined surface that is characteristic of cold ablation laser machining, and the machined surface exhibits no visible oxidation. A laser machining apparatus and technique is based on cold-ablation, but is modified or augmented with an inert assist gas to minimize deleterious surface modifications and mitigate oxide formation associated with laser machining.

An article includes a ceramic material and features a machined surface that is characteristic of cold ablation laser machining, and the machined surface exhibits no visible oxidation. A laser machining apparatus and technique is based on cold-ablation, but is modified or augmented with an inert assist gas to minimize deleterious surface modifications and mitigate oxide formation associated with laser machining.

A thermal processing machine, for example, a laser processing machine includes a workpiece support table in which a workpiece to be processed is mounted. In the workpiece support table, a plurality of workpiece support members are arranged. Each workpiece support member is formed of carbon fibers in a plurality of different directions and has a long plate shape. The workpiece support member has an upper end part formed with triangular or trapezoidal protrusions. In place of the workpiece support member formed with the triangular or trapezoidal protrusions, a workpiece support member having an upper side formed in a continuous wave shape including a curve may be provided.

A thermal processing machine, for example, a laser processing machine includes a workpiece support table in which a workpiece to be processed is mounted. In the workpiece support table, a plurality of workpiece support members are arranged. Each workpiece support member is formed of carbon fibers in a plurality of different directions and has a long plate shape. The workpiece support member has an upper end part formed with triangular or trapezoidal protrusions. In place of the workpiece support member formed with the triangular or trapezoidal protrusions, a workpiece support member having an upper side formed in a continuous wave shape including a curve may be provided.

A method for making an infrared light absorber is provided, and the method includes following steps: providing a first carbon nanotube array on a substrate; truncating the carbon nanotube array by irradiating a top surface of the carbon nanotube array by a laser beam in two directions, the top surface being away from the substrate, wherein the two directions being at an angle, the angle is in a range of 30 degrees to 90 degrees.

A method for making an infrared light absorber is provided, and the method includes following steps: providing a first carbon nanotube array on a substrate; truncating the carbon nanotube array by irradiating a top surface of the carbon nanotube array by a laser beam in two directions, the top surface being away from the substrate, wherein the two directions being at an angle, the angle is in a range of 30 degrees to 90 degrees.