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Welding breakthrough could transform manufacturing

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Re: Welding breakthrough could transform manufacturing

#51

Post by floatingatoll »

gnode wrote: post #50

In what use cases is this superior to traditional metal-glass seals (e.g. vacuum tubes), or metal-on-glass deposition (e.g. mirrors)?

This permits bonding a metal handle to a pyrex measuring cup. (It would only be safe up to boiling temperatures under the restrictions of the current process, assuming that the process described scales up to a measuring cup.)

This is a constructed example to demonstrate the type of thing that could be done now that we've figured out a possible way to do it. It's probably not a good example, but it is clearly distinct from the thin-film processes we consider common today.

EDIT: See below’s multi-paragraph writeup of why my “now you can do this” example is not a good example in practice.

Re: Welding breakthrough could transform manufacturing

#52

Post by lultimouomo »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #34
14 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose but personally I have only ever heard of people changing the entire frames with the glass. What a wasteful time we live in.

If it saves human time, it’s not wasteful. Time is the ultimate nonrenewable resource, while we are awash in materials.

Producing the new frame probably costed more human time, it just was a less paid human's.

Re: Welding breakthrough could transform manufacturing

#55

Post by dsfyu404ed »

Gravityloss wrote: post #48

If materials become composites, they can become hard to recycle. Pure aluminum or pure steel is easier.

Based on their mechanical properties I don't see why the current recycling process wouldn't work.

It's not like the metal recycling industry doesn't already deal with huge amounts impurities and other material entering the process. If you happen to have tons of metal welded glass to scrap you're not going to get as much money for it because it needs more processing so it will enter the supply chain at a lower price point. It's like the difference between scrapping a car and scrapping machine shop chips.

Re: Welding breakthrough could transform manufacturing

#57

Post by walterbell »

patentatt wrote: post #38
14 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose but personally I have only ever heard of people changing the entire frames with the glass. What a wasteful time we live in.

I’ve tried to change lenses while keeping frames, most manufacturers make it pretty hard to do so. Some don’t sell blank lenses without frames, and others have such fragmented and changing product lines that lenses aren’t available 1-2 years after original purchase. And to be fair, frames aren’t really all that durable anyways, and for something used daily it’s not all that wasteful to replace them every once in a wh…

It's done all the time for high-quality metal frames or vintage design frames. Two vendors:

https://replacementlensexpress.com

https://eyeglasslensdirect.com

Re: Welding breakthrough could transform manufacturing

#58

Post by jorvi »

patentatt wrote: post #38
14 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose but personally I have only ever heard of people changing the entire frames with the glass. What a wasteful time we live in.

I’ve tried to change lenses while keeping frames, most manufacturers make it pretty hard to do so. Some don’t sell blank lenses without frames, and others have such fragmented and changing product lines that lenses aren’t available 1-2 years after original purchase. And to be fair, frames aren’t really all that durable anyways, and for something used daily it’s not all that wasteful to replace them every once in a wh…

I'm confused, at my local optician I just point out a frame I want and he either pulls my measurements from his system or re-measures me and tells me my glasses will be ready in a few days. Hell, one time I had a frame that constantly bent and they ended up just letting me pick a new frame with almost identical glass slots and he just polished off a tiny bit until the glasses fit the new slots. How does the manufacturer fit into any of that?

Re: Welding breakthrough could transform manufacturing

#59

Post by jdietrich »

patentatt wrote: post #38
14 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose but personally I have only ever heard of people changing the entire frames with the glass. What a wasteful time we live in.

I’ve tried to change lenses while keeping frames, most manufacturers make it pretty hard to do so. Some don’t sell blank lenses without frames, and others have such fragmented and changing product lines that lenses aren’t available 1-2 years after original purchase. And to be fair, frames aren’t really all that durable anyways, and for something used daily it’s not all that wasteful to replace them every once in a wh…

That's not how eyeglasses work. Lenses are supplied to opticians as a round blank, which are then cut to fit the frame. Any optician should be able to re-glaze any frame, regardless of age or manufacturer; their equipment measures the frame, then cuts the lens to fit. It's really quite impressive to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCjGNUPO0WU

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