Medtronic, Inc.

Peter Nikrin

Paul C Ray

Scott N Tuominen

David J Buendorf

Matthew J Sanders

Vadim A Yakovlev

Nicholas A Gronneberg-Schnoes

Dennis L Howard

John E Hartung

Enrico Westenberg

Steven J Schultz

Jeffrey P Weiss

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a welding system that is configured to execute opposed, step, and parallel gap resistance spot welds (RSW) and associated methods. The system may be configured to switch bases to switch between an opposed weld configuration, a step weld configuration, and a parallel gap configuration. The system may include an accelerometer that is secured to the weld head adjacent one of the electrodes. The system may use the accelerometer to determine whether or not an RSW was defective. Acceleration data may indicate a defective weld when it includes acceleration data that is outside of a threshold range of acceptable acceleration data.

Resistance spot weld head with integrated accelerometer

A system for continuously monitoring a laser beam includes a photodiode sensor mounted adjacent to a laser beam optical path. A laser beam optical path analysis module connected to the photodiode sensor and adapted to receive, analyze and report the sensor output from the photodiode sensor.

System for continuous laser beam monitoring and analysis

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Ramsey, MN, United States of America

Peter Nikrin