Abstract: Method of forming or repairing a part with an overhung section. The method may include removing a portion, and adding a section to the part. The section includes the overhung section. The adding includes sequentially layering at least one plurality of material layers on the part, the at least one plurality of material layers approximating dimensions of the section including the overhung section. The sequential layering may include, for example, laser welding, and may be carried out in a number of ways that create varied layers within the overhung section. The method may include machining the at least one plurality of material layers to form the section including the overhung section.

Abstract: Method of forming or repairing a part with an overhung section. The method may include removing a portion, and adding a section to the part. The section includes the overhung section. The adding includes sequentially layering at least one plurality of material layers on the part, the at least one plurality of material layers approximating dimensions of the section including the overhung section. The sequential layering may include, for example, laser welding, and may be carried out in a number of ways that create varied layers within the overhung section. The method may include machining the at least one plurality of material layers to form the section including the overhung section.

Abstract: Method of forming or repairing a part with an overhung section. The method may include removing a portion, and adding a section to the part. The section includes the overhung section. The adding includes sequentially layering at least one plurality of material layers on the part, the at least one plurality of material layers approximating dimensions of the section including the overhung section. The sequential layering may include, for example, laser welding, and may be carried out in a number of ways that create varied layers within the overhung section. The method may include machining the at least one plurality of material layers to form the section including the overhung section.

Abstract: A component includes a body having a coupon opening defined therein, and an additively manufactured (AM) metal coupon including a dense region, a porous region adjacent the dense region, and a coupon outer surface. The porous region has a first cross-sectional area at a first location at or near the coupon outer surface and a second cross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area at a second location distal from the coupon outer surface. A braze material couples the metal coupon in the coupon opening and infiltrates into the porous region, e.g., based at least on a characteristic of the porosity thereof. The dense region may have a third cross-sectional area at the first location and a fourth cross-sectional area greater than the third cross-sectional area at the second location so it can direct the braze material in the porous region toward an inner surface of the coupon opening.

Abstract: A component includes a dense base region, a dense replacement region and an additively manufactured (AM) porous region between the dense base region and the dense replacement region. The porous region has a porosity between 2% to 50% open space volume to total volume of the AM porous region. The porous region can be printed onto the base region or the replacement region. A braze material couples the base region, the porous region and the replacement region together, and infiltrates into the porous region based at least on a characteristic of the porosity. The porous region reduces stress at a joint between the dense regions and can be customized to create different physical characteristic(s) than just those of the base and replacement regions.

Abstract: A component including a body, and an additively manufactured (AM) metal coupon including a first section and a stress-relief section, is disclosed. The stress-relief section includes a porous region having a porosity between 2% to 50% open space volume to total volume of the stress-relief section. The stress-relief section has at least one of thermal conductivity, tensile strength, ductility, or fatigue strength less than first section. A braze material couples the AM metal coupon to a coupon opening in the body. The stress-relief section creates a low-stress zone in the metal coupon that can be located near or adjacent to a high-stress zone. The stress-relief section reduces residual stress in the metal coupon, which reduces the related challenges of coupling the metal coupon to the body of the component, especially where superalloy materials are used.

Abstract: A metal coupon includes an additively manufactured (AM) metal member having a porous region having between 2% to 50% open space volume to total volume. The metal coupon includes a first section of an anchor configured to interact with a second section of the anchor in a coupon opening of a body of a component. A component including the metal coupon may include the body including the coupon opening, and an anchor including a first section in or on one of the AM metal coupon and the body and a second section in or on the other of the AM metal coupon and the body. At least the first and second sections cooperatively hold the AM metal coupon in the coupon opening in the body. Braze material couples the coupon in the coupon opening in the body. The braze material infiltrates into the porous region.

Abstract: A metal coupon for repairing a component includes an additively manufactured (AM) metal member having a low porosity region in an interior of the AM metal member, and a porous region around the low porosity region. The low porosity region may have a porosity in a range of 0% to 5%, so is solid or nearly solid. The porous metal coupon with low porosity region allows braze material to be directed based on characteristics of the porous region.

Abstract: A component includes a body and an additively manufactured (AM) metal coupon that includes a primary member having a member porosity between 2% to 50% open space volume to total volume of the primary member. The primary member includes a first portion and a second portion distanced from the first portion by a gap. At least one thermal transfer structure, such as pin(s) and/or fin(s), extends between the first and second portions across the gap. A braze material couples the AM metal coupon in a coupon opening in the body, and infiltrates into the primary member based at least on a characteristic of the member porosity. The braze material may also infiltrate the thermal transfer structure(s), which may have the same or different porosity from the primary member. The thermal transfer structure(s) exhibit enhanced heat rejection, reduce weight of the component, and may improve component vibratory response.

Abstract: A metal coupon for repairing a component includes an additively manufactured (AM) metal member having a conduit in an interior of the AM metal member, and a first porous region around the conduit. The conduit is hollow. The porous metal coupon with conduit allows a braze material to be directed based on characteristics of the first porous region. A second porous region may be provided inside the conduit to increase heat rejection of the conduit.

Abstract: A metal coupon for repairing a component includes an additively manufactured (AM) metal member having a sealed cavity in an interior of the AM metal member, and a porous region around the sealed cavity. A metal coupon system may include at least two AM metal parts with each AM metal part including at least a section of a sealed cavity therein and a porous region around the at least section of the sealed cavity. The AM metal parts combine to form the metal coupon, i.e., AM metal member, with the sealed cavity in an interior thereof and the porous region around the sealed cavity. In any event, the sealed cavity is hollow. The metal coupon with the sealed cavity provides reduced mass and allows braze material to be directed based on characteristics of the porous region of the metal coupon.

Abstract: A metal coupon for repairing a component includes an additively manufactured (AM) metal member having at least two porous regions and a braze material infiltration barrier positioned between the at least two porous regions. The braze material infiltration barrier has a lower porosity than the at least two porous regions. A component using the metal coupon may also include a braze material coupling the metal coupon in a coupon opening in the body. The braze material infiltrates at least one of the two porous regions, and the braze material infiltration barrier separates the braze material in the at least one of the two porous regions from at least one other of the at least two porous regions. Different braze materials may be used in each porous region.

Abstract: A component includes a body and an additively manufactured (AM) metal coupon that includes at least one first porous region having a first porosity and may include any number of second porous regions having a second porosity different than the first porosity. A braze material couples the metal coupon in a coupon opening in the body. The braze material infiltrates into at least one of the first porous region based at least on a characteristic of the first porosity or any second porous region based at least on a characteristic of the second porosity. The different porosities can be customized to provide the first porous region and the second porous region with the braze material therein with different physical characteristic(s).

Abstract: A method of coupling a metal coupon to a component may include additively manufacturing the metal coupon having a first porous region having a first porosity and a second porous region having a second porosity different than the first porosity. The metal coupon is positioned in a coupon opening in a body of the component. The metal coupon may be infiltrated with a braze material to couple the metal coupon in the coupon opening in the body. One or more braze materials infiltrate into at least one of the first porous region based at least on a characteristic of the first porosity and the second porous region based at least on a characteristic of the second porosity. The cured braze material includes different sections having different physical characteristics based on the different porosities and/or different braze materials(s).

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of positioning a constraining member on a component to create a zone between the component and the constraining member. A first material composition is positioned in the zone between the component and the constraining member, and a second material composition is positioned in the zone between the component and the constraining member. The second material composition is positioned on the first material composition. Heat treating the component, the constraining member, the first material composition, and the second material composition occurs. The second material composition flows into the first material composition and forms a third material composition. The constraining member is removed from the component and the third material composition.

Abstract: Method of forming or repairing a part with an overhung section. The method may include removing a portion, and adding a section to the part. The section includes the overhung section. The adding includes sequentially layering at least one plurality of material layers on the part, the at least one plurality of material layers approximating dimensions of the section including the overhung section. The sequential layering may include, for example, laser welding, and may be carried out in a number of ways that create varied layers within the overhung section. The method may include machining the at least one plurality of material layers to form the section including the overhung section.

Abstract: Method of forming or repairing a part with an overhung section. The method may include removing a portion, and adding a section to the part. The section includes the overhung section. The adding includes sequentially layering at least one plurality of material layers on the part, the at least one plurality of material layers approximating dimensions of the section including the overhung section. The sequential layering may include, for example, laser welding, and may be carried out in a number of ways that create varied layers within the overhung section. The method may include machining the at least one plurality of material layers to form the section including the overhung section.

Abstract: A submersible inspection drone used for inspection of liquid cooled electrical transformers can include a number of separate cameras for imaging the internal structure of the transformer. The submersible can be configured to communicate to a base station using a wireless transmitter and receiver. The cameras on the submersible can be fixed in place and can be either static or motion picture cameras. The submersible can include an input/output selector capable of switching between the camera images, either through commanded action of a user or through computer based switching. In one form the input/output selector is a multiplexer. The base station can be configured to display images from the cameras one at a time, or can include a number of separate viewing portals in which real time images are displayed. The base station can include a demultiplexer synchronized to the multiplexer of the submersible.

Abstract: A tether control system for an inspection vehicle operable in a housing having a liquid medium is disclosed in the present application. The tether system includes a tether connected between the inspection vehicle and an electronic controller. A controllable buoyancy system associated with the tether is operable for moving the tether in a desired location. The controllable buoyancy system includes one or more floating bodies having a propulsion system and one or more buoyant elements having variable buoyancy capabilities.

Abstract: A system and method for determining performance of a robot. In one form the robot is constructed as you assembling automotive workpieces onto an automobile assembly. In one form the robot accomplishes the task of assembling an automotive workpiece onto the automotive assembly by using vision feedback and force feedback. The vision feedback can use any number of features perform its function. Such features can include an artificial feature such as but not limited to a QR code, as well as a natural feature such as a portion of the workpiece or automotive assembly. In one embodiment the robot is capable of detecting a collision event and assessing the severity of the collision event. In another embodiment the robot is capable of evaluating its performance by attracting a performance metric against a performance threshold, and comparing a sensor fusion output with a sensor fusion output reference.