Method and apparatus for repairing metal in an article
First Claim
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1. In a method for repairing an article having an article portion of a metallic material, the steps of:
- concurrently applying to the article portion a laser beam and a powder comprising metal powder;
the metal powder being of a composition substantially the same as the metallic material of the article portion;
the laser being applied, at a laser beam spot, to the powder and the article portion beneath the powder in a power density range of 104 to 106 watts per square centimeter to melt both the metal powder and material of the article portion to generate a molten interaction zone from the metal powder and the metallic material of the article portion, whilemaintaining an interaction time in the range of 0.005-2 seconds between the beam and the powder and article portion beneath the powder thereby reducing the heat affected zone in the article portion and providing a repair layer on the article portion consolidated from the powder and metallic material of the portion.
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Abstract
In the repair of a metallic article portion, a metal powder and laser beam are applied concurrently, the laser beam being applied in a power density range of 104 to 106 watts per square centimeter at an interaction time between the laser and the article and powder of 0.005-2 seconds to generate a repair layer.
Apparatus for delivering a consistent, continuous flow of powder comprises the combination of an enclosed powder reservoir including means to introduce a gas under pressure, a mechanical means to feed powder into a conduit, a conduit vibrating means, and a fluid-cooled powder delivery nozzle.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In a method for repairing an article having an article portion of a metallic material, the steps of:
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concurrently applying to the article portion a laser beam and a powder comprising metal powder; the metal powder being of a composition substantially the same as the metallic material of the article portion; the laser being applied, at a laser beam spot, to the powder and the article portion beneath the powder in a power density range of 104 to 106 watts per square centimeter to melt both the metal powder and material of the article portion to generate a molten interaction zone from the metal powder and the metallic material of the article portion, while maintaining an interaction time in the range of 0.005-2 seconds between the beam and the powder and article portion beneath the powder thereby reducing the heat affected zone in the article portion and providing a repair layer on the article portion consolidated from the powder and metallic material of the portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification