Abstract: A laser cladding system includes a laser apparatus, a chamber, and a pump system. The laser apparatus is configured to generate a laser beam. The chamber includes an interior surface that defines a cladding area comprising a sealed volume. The chamber includes a window that is made from a laser-transparent material and is configured to allow the laser beam to pass therethrough into the cladding area. The pump system has a port in communication with the cladding area. The pump system is configured to selectively generate a vacuum pressure within the cladding area sufficient to evacuate gas from within the cladding area out through the port. The laser apparatus includes a laser head from which the laser beam is emitted and a robotic laser motion system configured to selectively move the laser head such that the laser beam moves relative to a reference point within the chamber.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component is disclosed. The method includes depositing a material on a removable form structure having geometry corresponding to an internal space of the component. The material is deposited on the removable form structure by an additive manufacturing technique. The method includes removing the removable form structure to obtain a pre-machined component, and then machining the pre-machined component to manufacture the component having the internal space.

Abstract: A piston including a piston crown, the piston crown defining a combustion bowl with a bowl base and bottom surface. A failure initiation structure is provided on the bottom surface of the combustion bowl to initiate favorable fracture at predetermined loads. Such favorable fracture may lead to the a separation of a fragment of the bowl base from the combustion bowl when a predetermined load or pressure is exceeded within the combustion bowl.

Abstract: A method for repairing a cylinder liner includes: placing a cylinder liner having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter into a cavity of a confinement, the cavity including a cavity inner diameter that is substantially the same as the first outer diameter of the cylinder liner; heating the cylinder liner to a temperature at which the cylinder liner undergoes plastic deformation, causing the first inner diameter of the cylinder liner to decrease; and cooling the cylinder liner. The cooled cylinder liner has a second inner diameter that is less than the first inner diameter. An apparatus for repairing a cylinder liner includes a confinement having a cavity and a fluid passageway for controlling the temperature of the confinement, and a heating block for heating the cylinder liner when the cylinder liner is inserted into the cavity.

Abstract: A piston including a piston crown, the piston crown defining a combustion bowl with a bowl base and bottom surface. A failure initiation structure is provided on the bottom surface of the combustion bowl to initiate favorable fracture at predetermined loads. Such favorable fracture may lead to the a separation of a fragment of the bowl base from the combustion bowl when a predetermined load or pressure is exceeded within the combustion bowl.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component is disclosed. The method includes depositing a material on a removable form structure having geometry corresponding to an internal space of the component. The material is deposited on the removable form structure by an additive manufacturing technique. The method includes removing the removable form structure to obtain a pre-machined component, and then machining the pre-machined component to manufacture the component having the internal space.

Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a fluid end block of a well stimulation pump includes cleaning an interior surface of a body of the fluid end block. The interior surface defines a chamber, a plunger passage in communication with the chamber, an intake passage in fluid communication with the chamber, and a discharge passage in fluid communication with the chamber. The interior surface is made from a base material. The interior surface of the fluid end block is cold-worked to produce a compressive residual stress layer within the body. A coating layer made from a non-metallic material is applied to at least a portion of the interior surface of the body. The non-metallic material is different from the base material.

Abstract: A laser cladding system includes a laser apparatus, a chamber, and a pump system. The laser apparatus is configured to generate a laser beam. The chamber includes an interior surface that defines a cladding area comprising a sealed volume. The chamber includes a window that is made from a laser-transparent material and is configured to allow the laser beam to pass therethrough into the cladding area. The pump system has a port in communication with the cladding area. The pump system is configured to selectively generate a vacuum pressure within the cladding area sufficient to evacuate gas from within the cladding area out through the port. The laser apparatus includes a laser head from which the laser beam is emitted and a robotic laser motion system configured to selectively move the laser head such that the laser beam moves relative to a reference point within the chamber.

Abstract: A method for repairing a cylinder liner includes: placing a cylinder liner having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter into a cavity of a confinement, the cavity including a cavity inner diameter that is substantially the same as the first outer diameter of the cylinder liner; heating the cylinder liner to a temperature at which the cylinder liner undergoes plastic deformation, causing the first inner diameter of the cylinder liner to decrease; and cooling the cylinder liner. The cooled cylinder liner has a second inner diameter that is less than the first inner diameter. An apparatus for repairing a cylinder liner includes a confinement having a cavity and a fluid passageway for controlling the temperature of the confinement, and a heating block for heating the cylinder liner when the cylinder liner is inserted into the cavity.

Abstract: A method for remanufacturing of a flywheel is provided. The flywheel has a damage area thereon. The method includes removing a portion of a material from a face of the flywheel containing the damage area to form a recessed portion, wherein the recessed portion has a ring shaped profile. The method also includes aligning an insert within the recessed portion of the flywheel, wherein the insert is ring shaped and is configured to fit within the recessed portion of the flywheel. The method further includes coupling the insert within the recessed portion of the flywheel.

Abstract: Cladding and remanufacturing a machine component includes directing cleaning and welding beams split from an incident laser beam toward the machine component, and moving the machine component relative the cleaning and welding beams such that the welding beam trails behind the cleaning beam along a common travel path. A surface of the machine component is decontaminated by the cleaning beam, while a cladding material is melted via the welding beam such that upon solidifying the cladding material forms a coating metallurgically bonded to base material and previously deposited cladding material of the machine component.

Abstract: A cylinder block of an engine is provided. The cylinder block includes a top deck. The cylinder block also includes a cylindrical surface defining a bore extending from the top deck along a longitudinal axis. The cylinder block includes a shoulder portion formed on the top deck. The top deck includes an abutment surface. The cylinder block further includes an insert disposed in the shoulder portion. The insert includes an outer surface adapted to fuse with the abutment surface of the shoulder portion. A predetermined force and a predetermined electric current are applied to the insert for fusing the outer surface of the insert with the abutment surface of the shoulder portion.

Abstract: A cladding composition is configured for use in a laser cladding process to remanufacture the wear surfaces of machine components that require a significant degree of hardness. The cladding composition can be provided in a powdered form and can include molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), carbon (C), and manganese (Mn) with the balance of the composition being iron. The cladding composition, after melting and solidifying on the wear surface, can from a solid cladding layer having a hardness of 50 or greater as measured on the Rockwell C scale while maintain a significant degree of fracture toughness.

Abstract: A method for remanufacturing of a flywheel is provided. The flywheel has a damage area thereon. The method includes removing a portion of a material from a face of the flywheel containing the damage area to form a recessed portion, wherein the recessed portion has a ring shaped profile. The method also includes aligning an insert within the recessed portion of the flywheel, wherein the insert is ring shaped and is configured to fit within the recessed portion of the flywheel. The method further includes coupling the insert within the recessed portion of the flywheel.

Abstract: A method of forming a layer of cladding material on a component includes performing a metal deposition process to deposit cladding material onto a surface of the component and onto a mold member. A metallurgical bond is formed between the cladding material and the component, but not between the cladding material and the mold member. The mold member may be removed after the metal deposition process, and the layer of cladding material can be processed to modify its shape.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for inspecting worn surface of camshaft lobes of a camshaft. The method includes providing a laser scanning device at a predetermined distance from the worn surface of the camshaft lobes, the laser scanning device being configured to scan and gather data. The method includes moving the laser scanning device along a reference axis parallel with an axis of rotation of the camshaft and repeating the scanning for each camshaft lobe of the camshaft. The method includes generating a set of data points for each camshaft lobe. The method further includes determining a maximum depth of the worn surface based on the set of data points. The method also includes selecting the camshaft lobes for a remanufacturing process, if the maximum depth of the worn surface for each measured camshaft lobe is less than or equal to a predefined tolerance limit.

Abstract: Cladding and remanufacturing a machine component includes directing cleaning and welding beams split from an incident laser beam toward the machine component, and moving the machine component relative the cleaning and welding beams such that the welding beam trails behind the cleaning beam along a common travel path. A surface of the machine component is decontaminated by the cleaning beam, whilst a cladding material is melted via the welding beam such that upon solidifying the cladding material forms a coating metallurgically bonded to base material and previously deposited cladding material of the machine component.