Method of forming a coupling disc for an electromagnetic coupling

A method of forming a multiple pole coupling disc for an electromagnetic coupling, said method comprising the steps of, providing a generally circular disc made of magnetic material, directing a laser beam continuously toward one face of said disc at a location between the center of the disc and the outer periphery thereof, effecting relative rotation between said disc and said laser beam through a full 360 degrees about an axis coinciding with the center of the disc to cause said laser beam to heat said disc and to form a circular slot completely around and through the disc, providing an elongated rod of non-magnetic material in closely spaced and angularly fixed relation with said laser beam, and continuously advancing said rod lengthwise toward said slot during said relative rotation thereby to cause melting of said non-magnetic material by said laser beam and to cause said non-magnetic material to flow into and fill said slot and to become welded to the heated edges thereof.

A method of forming a multiple pole coupling disc for an electromagnetic coupling, said method comprising the steps of, providing a generally circular disc made of magnetic material, directing a laser beam continuously toward one face of said disc at a location between the center of the disc and the outer periphery thereof, effecting relative rotation between said disc and said laser through a full 360 degrees about an axis coinciding with the center of the disc to cause said laser beam to heat said disc and to form a circular slot completely around and through the disc, providing an elongated rod of non-magnetic material in closely spaced and angularly fixed relation with said laser beam, and intermittently advancing said rod lengthwise toward said slot during said relative rotation thereby to cause melting of said non-magnetic material by said laser beam and to cause said non-magnetic material to flow into and fill angularly spaced arcuate portions of said slot and to become welded to the heated edges thereof.

A method of forming a multiple pole coupling disc for an electromagnetic coupling having a coacting coupling member adapted to selectively engage the coupling disc, said method comprising the steps of, providing a disc made of magnetic material, said disc having a working face for engaging said coupling member and having an opposite non-working face, directing a laser beam toward the non-working face of said disc at a location between the center of the disc and the outer periphery thereof, effecting relative movement between said disc and said laser beam to cause said laser beam to heat said disc and form slot means in the disc, and filling at least selected portions of said slot means with molten non-magnetic material capable of welding to the edges of said slot means.

A method of forming a multiple pole coupling disc for an electromagnetic coupling, said method comprising the steps of, providing a generally circular disc made of magnetic material, directing a laser beam continuously toward one face of said disc at a location between the center of the disc and the outer periphery thereof, effecting relative turning between said disc. and said laser beam to cause said laser beam to heat said disc and to form a curved slot completely through the disc, providing an elongated rod of non-magnetic material in closely spaced and angularly fixed relation with said laser beam, and continuously advancing said rod lengthwise toward said slot during said relative turning thereby to cause melting of said non-magnetic material by said laser beam and to cause said non-magnetic material to flow into and fill said slot and to become welded to the heated edges thereof.

A method of forming a multiple pole coupling disc for an electromagnetic coupling, said method comprising the steps of, providing a generally circular disc made of magnetic material, directing a laser beam continuously toward one face of said disc at a location between the center of the disc and the outer periphery thereof, effecting relative turning between said disc and said laser to cause said laser beam to heat said disc and to form a curved slot completely through the disc, providing an elongated rod of non-magnetic material in closely spaced and angularly fixed relation with said laser beam, and intermittently advancing said rod lengthwise toward said slot during said relative turning thereby to cause melting of said non-magnetic material by said laser beam and to cause said non-magnetic material to flow into and fill angularly spaced curved portions of said slot and to become welded to the heated edges thereof.