초록 ▼

A method and system for rigidly connecting a first metallic plate to a second metallic plate are provided. The first plate over the second plate, and a force is applied to at least one first location of the first plate using a clamping arrangement so as to tightly couple the first plate to the secon

A method and system for rigidly connecting a first metallic plate to a second metallic plate are provided. The first plate over the second plate, and a force is applied to at least one first location of the first plate using a clamping arrangement so as to tightly couple the first plate to the second plate in a proximity of the first location. Then, the beam source is caused to generate a beam to irradiate the first plate at the first location to produce a molten material. In this manner, at least one irradiated section of the first plate is melted throughout its thickness and rigidly connected to the second plate using the molten material. During the irradiation, the first plate and the clamping arrangement are translated with respect to one another to reach at least one second location. It is also possible to provide a bonding layer or a soldering layer between the first and second layers, which can be used to rigidly connect the first and second layers to one another. Further, it is possible to simultaneously cut a section of the first layer, and weld it to the second layer.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for rigidly connecting a first metallic plate to a second metallic plate, comprising the steps of: a) situating the first plate over the second plate; b) applying a force to at least one first location of the first plate using a clamping arrangement having an apertur

What is claimed is: 1. A method for rigidly connecting a first metallic plate to a second metallic plate, comprising the steps of: a) situating the first plate over the second plate; b) applying a force to at least one first location of the first plate using a clamping arrangement having an aperture so as to tightly couple the first plate to the second plate in a proximity of the at least one first location; c) with a laser beam, irradiating the first plate through the aperture at the at least one first location to produce a molten material so that at least one irradiated section of the first plate is melted throughout its thickness and rigidly connected to the second plate using the molten material; d) during step (c), translating the first plate and the clamping arrangement with respect to one another to reach at least one second location; and dd) removing at least one portion of the molten material using one of a gas or compressed air through the aperture while the first and second plates are tightly coupled by the clamping arrangement in the proximity of the at least one first location. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beam is generated from a beam head of a beam generating arrangement, and wherein the clamping arrangement is mechanically attached to the beam head. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the beam head is a laser head generating the laser beam. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first plate is provided on a translation stage, and wherein, during step (d), a direction of a motion of an impingement of the beam is the same as a direction of a motion of the clamping arrangement. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, during the step (d), the relative translation of the clamping arrangement is associated with a relative movement of the beam with respect to the first plate. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises the substep of simultaneously welding the first plate to the second plate and cutting the first plate throughout its thickness at the at least one first location. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: e) before step (a), providing a bonding layer between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the first layer is welded to the second layer using the bonding layer. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: f) after steps (c) and (d), applying a further force to at least one third location of the first plate using a clamping arrangement so as to tightly couple the first plate to the second plate in a proximity of the at least one third location, wherein the at least one third location is different from the first and second locations; g) with a beam, irradiating the first plate at the at least one third location to cut the first plate at the at least one third location and rigidly connect the first plate to the second plate; and h) during step (g), translating the first plate and the clamping arrangement with respect to one another from the at least one third location to reach at least one fourth location. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in steps (c) and (d), the first layer is cut and connected to the second plate along a first path, wherein, in steps (g) and (h), the first layer is cut and connected to the second plate along a second path which is different than the first path, wherein at least one first portion of the first layer is provided between the first path and the second path, and wherein at least one second portion of the first layer is provided away from the at least one first portion without contacting one of the first path and the second path. 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: i) removing at least one of the at least one first portion and the at least one second portion of the first layer so as to expose the second layer. 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to the execution of step (a), the steps of: j) situating a third plate over the first plate; k) applying a further force to at least one fifth location of the third plate using the clamping arrangement so as to tightly couple the first plate to the third plate in a proximity of the at least one a fifth location; l) with the beam, irradiating the third plate at the at least one fifth location to produce a further molten material so that at least one irradiated section of the third plate is melted throughout its thickness and rigidly connected to the first plate using the further molten material; and m) during step (l), translating the third plate and the clamping arrangement with respect to one another from the at least one third location to reach at least one sixth location. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first plate is rigidly connected to the second plate by at least one of soldering and brazing the at least one section of the first plate to the second plate. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises providing a gaseous shield approximately along a direction of the beam onto the at least one first location. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) is performed after step (b). 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of the molten material is removed using a gas. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the gas is a compressed gas, and further comprising blowing away the at least one portion of the molten material using the compressed gas. 17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after irradiating the first plate throughout its thickness and removing the at least one portion of the molten material, separating the first plate into a first piece and a second piece along a path between the first and second locations. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first and second pieces of the first plate are separated from the second plate via a peeling procedure.