Simultaneous laser welding equipment of a vehicle light including at least a plurality of laser sources suitable for emitting light beams, a plurality of optical fibres associated, at the input ends to the at least one laser source and transmitting the light beams. A light guide is provided with at least one hollow seat that delimits a continuous perimetral contour, counter-shaped to the weld interface. The light guide comprises diffusion elements that pass through the perimetral contour of the seat of the light guide internally, so as to intercept and influence the light beams that propagate inside the seat and that are shaped to expand the light beams along a direction substantially tangent to the curvilinear abscissa defining the perimetral contour, before it projects from the light output wall and/or at the latter.

A method for producing a component from two or more sub-components includes the steps of: producing each of the sub-components using an additive manufacturing process in which a resin, which is radiant-energy-curable, is partially cured using a selective application of radiant energy, wherein each sub-component includes a joint surface in which the resin is partially cured which is cured to a lesser degree than the remainder of the respective sub-component, so as to leave the joint surfaces in a condition suitable for bonding; assembling the sub-components with their respective joint surfaces in mutual contact; and performing a secondary cure of the partially-cured resin at the joint surfaces using an application of radiant energy, so as to further cure the partially-cured resin and bond the sub-components to each other, thereby forming the component.

A preform-charge fixture creates a preform charge, which is a partially consolidated assemblage of preforms that can be efficiently transferred to a mold to create a finished part in a molding process, such as compression molding. In the illustrative embodiment, the preform-charge fixture includes peripheral cleats that are movable towards a central cleat to create a small gap therebetween that receives and constrains preforms in a desired position. The fixture also includes clamps, which are operable to engage an uppermost layer of preforms in the gap and apply a slight amount of downward pressure thereto to assure that the preforms are properly seated. The fixture also accommodates an energy source that heats the preforms so that, in conjunction with downforce applied by the clamps and/or gravity, the preforms can be tacked together, forming the preform charge.

A simultaneous laser welding apparatus of a vehicle light comprising a placement support for a container body and a lenticular body of a vehicle light welded together at reciprocal perimeter profiles, a plurality of laser sources, a plurality of optical fibres associated with the laser sources at input ends for transmitting the light beams, a fibre-holder support device for blocking output ends of the optical fibres in predetermined positions, spaced apart by a pitch, a light guide provided with at least one seat which receives the light beams coming from the output ends of the optical fibres, to a light output wall which sends the light beams towards the welding interface. A single optical fibre is associated with each laser source.

The present disclosure relates more to processes for making a filter element that includes a filter membrane having a strip of thermoplastic polymer material laminated thereto, for example, as a strip along an edge of the filter membrane. For example, one such process includes providing a sheet of filter membrane having a first surface and an opposed second surface; providing a strip of thermoplastic polymer material having a first surface and an opposed second surface; contacting the first surface of the strip of thermoplastic polymer material with the first surface of the filter membrane; and softening the strip of thermoplastic polymer material at at least its first surface by irradiation with laser radiation; such that the softened polymer material of the first surface of the strip of thermoplastic polymer material bonds to the first surface of the filter membrane upon hardening.

A preform-charge fixture creates a preform charge, which is a partially consolidated assemblage of preforms that can be efficiently transferred to a mold to create a finished part in a molding process, such as compression molding. In the illustrative embodiment, the preform-charge fixture includes peripheral cleats that are movable towards a central cleat to create a small gap therebetween that receives and constrains preforms in a desired position. The fixture also includes clamps, which are operable to engage an uppermost layer of preforms in the gap and apply a slight amount of downward pressure thereto to assure that the preforms are properly seated. The fixture also accommodates an energy source that heats the preforms so that, in conjunction with downforce applied by the clamps and/or gravity, the preforms can be tacked together, forming the preform charge.

Method for joining a fluid conduit and a connection hub. There is provided a method for joining a fluid conduit 2 and a connection hub 7, wherein a fluid 2 conduit is provided having an at least partially transparent end section 1. Also provided is a connection hub 7 comprising a hub cavity 9 having a shape complementary to a shape of the end section of the fluid conduit 1. The end section of the fluid conduit 1 is at least partly introduced into the hub cavity 9 through an opening in the hub, wherein a contact interface between at least a lateral wall part of the end section 1 and a hub cavity 9 wall is established. The method includes heating a target zone 27 in the contact interface, for joining the fluid conduit 2 and the connection hub 7 at the target zone 27, by directing a light beam 29 across the at least partially transparent end section 1 of the fluid conduit 2 from a side of the fluid conduit 2 which is opposite a side of the target zone 27.

A narrow waveguide homogenizes laser light traveling from a laser light source of a laser bank through a plurality of laser delivery bundles that include at least a fiber optic bundle leg to weld a plurality of work pieces along a weld line that is narrower than the width of the fiber optic bundle leg. The narrow waveguide has a portion associated with each fiber optic bundle leg that is narrower than the fiber optic bundle leg with which that portion of the waveguide is associated. A reflective bounce plane diverts laser light of the fiber optic bundle leg that does not travel through the narrow waveguide.

A vehicle light having a container body having a first perimetral profile, a lenticular body, having a second perimetral profile, wherein the first and second perimetral profile of the container body and the lenticular body are at least partially counter-shaped to each other in order to interface at a welding interface of an abutment edge of the lenticular body. The container body delimits a containment seat that houses a light source and the lenticular body is applied to the container body so as to close the containment seat. A redirection surface is adapted to receive laser beams, to concentrate and reflect them towards the welding interface. The redirection surface is arranged on an inner face of the abutment edge, the inner face facing the containment seat and incident with the welding interface. A method of making the vehicle light is also disclosed.

Sensors incorporated within a waveguide detect a laser light output from at least a laser delivery optical fiber to provide in situ feedback of the laser light intensity detected by the sensor. The sensors may detect laser light directly from the laser delivery optical fiber or as reflected back from a plurality of work pieces during a weld cycle. In various aspects, the feedback provided from the sensors is used to control the laser light intensity or to alert an operator that the laser light intensity is below a predetermined parameter.