A powder production method includes providing an elongated workpiece and repeatedly contacting an outer surface of the elongated workpiece with a reciprocating cutter according to a predetermined at least one frequency to produce a powder. The powder includes a plurality of particles, wherein at least 95% of the produced particles have a diameter or maximum dimension ranging from about 10 μm to about 200 μm. A system for producing powders having a plurality of particles including a cutter and at least one controller is also provided herein.

A multifunctional laser processing apparatus includes a hollow milling shaft, a light path tool holder, a tool-holder-type melting module, a laser light source, and a temperature sensor. The hollow milling shaft includes a first light path channel and a connection portion. The light path tool holder can be connected to the connection portion. The light path tool holder has a second light path channel communicating with the first light path channel. The tool-holder-type melting module can be connected to the connection portion. The tool-holder-type melting module has a third light path channel communicating with the first light path channel. The laser light source is configured to emit a laser light beam toward the first light path channel. The temperature sensor is disposed on an outer surface of the hollow milling shaft and is configured to sense a temperature of a work piece during a multifunctional processing process.

The present invention relates to a hybrid material processing method includes steps of: emitting a laser beam toward an intended-to-be-modified area intended on a workpiece by a laser to perform a property modification for the intended-to-be-modified area; applying an optical image positioning assisted equipment to perform a precise positioning for a modified area or a positioning marker on the workpiece, so as to align a machine tool to the modified area; and driving the machine tool to perform a processing for the modified area.

A powder production method includes providing an elongated workpiece and repeatedly contacting an outer surface of the elongated workpiece with a reciprocating cutter according to a predetermined at least one frequency to produce a powder. The powder includes a plurality of particles, wherein at least 95% of the produced particles have a diameter or maximum dimension ranging from about 10 μm to about 200 μm. A system for producing powders having a plurality of particles including a cutter and at least one controller is also provided herein.

A mount system and method of manufacture for e.g. a machine vision camera is disclosed. The mount system comprises a rectangular base, a lower clamp disc, an upper clamp disc, a tilting plate, an expansion clamp, and an O-ring. The expansion clamp comprises a tapered head screw and an expandable mandrel, both typically made of stainless steel. The mount system facilitates improved machine vision by enabling effective mounting of machine vision cameras in smaller spaces and/or spaces requiring unusual angles and intricate positioning. The mount system is also advantageous in inhospitable environments having harsh environmental factors. The mount system is also easier for machine vision personnel to learn and understand.

A powder production method includes providing at least one elongated member including a ductile material; providing a rotating or vibrating cutter configured to repeatedly cut an end of the at least one elongated member to produce particles; and advancing the at least one elongated member or the cutter towards the other of the at least one elongated member or the cutter to cut the particles from the at least one elongated member to produce a powder comprising a plurality of the particles. The particles produced by the method can have a diameter ranging from about 10 μm to about 200 μm.

A method for machining a ceramic matrix composite (CMC), the method enhancing a machining speed for the ceramic matrix composite (CMC), includes: a step of scanning an irradiated portion of a surface of a machining target material by a laser head to irradiate the irradiated portion with laser light from the laser head, and forming a deteriorated layer on the irradiated portion of the surface of the machining target material; and a step of sequentially removing the deteriorated layer by an end mill, the deteriorated layer being formed on the irradiated portion, wherein the deteriorated layer is formed by heating the irradiated portion up to a predetermined temperature by irradiation of continuous oscillation laser light, and by forming a crack by irradiation of pulsed oscillation laser light.

A cutting tool for cutting a hard brittle material is formed from a light-transmittable material through which laser light can pass and is provided with a rake angle, the laser light is propagated through the cutting tool, the cutting tool and the hard brittle material are brought into contact with each other, the laser light is incident to at least a contact part where the cutting tool and the hard brittle material are in contact with each other and a part with the rake angle, the laser light except for Fresnel reflection light on an end surface of the cutting tool is incident to the hard brittle material through the contact part and the rake angle part to soften the hard brittle material, and the softened hard brittle material is cut.

A mount system and method of manufacture for e.g. a machine vision camera is disclosed. The mount system comprises a rectangular base, a lower clamp disc, an upper clamp disc, a tilting plate, an expansion clamp, and an O-ring. The expansion clamp comprises a tapered head screw and an expandable mandrel, both typically made of stainless steel. The mount system facilitates improved machine vision by enabling effective mounting of machine vision cameras in smaller spaces and/or spaces requiring unusual angles and intricate positioning. The mount system is also advantageous in inhospitable environments having harsh environmental factors. The mount system is also easier for machine vision personnel to learn and understand.

Laser-assisted micromachining methods and systems capable of providing flexible beam positioning and low incident angles. Such laser-assisted micromachining systems preferably include a laser beam source, a cutting tool, means for engaging a workpiece with the cutting tool, optical elements arranged to define a path of a laser beam emitted by the laser beam source wherein the optical elements include at least a first mirror mounted in fixed relation to the laser beam source, and means for adjustably mounting a second mirror to project the laser beam onto the workpiece in proximity to the cutting tool and at an incidence angle relative to a surface of the workpiece.