Abstract: A system for monitoring and/or controlling a treatment process includes a treatment apparatus for carrying out the treatment process. The treatment apparatus includes a vibratory trough for receiving and retaining treatment media and a component support fixedly attached to the vibratory trough. The system includes a plurality of sensor devices respectively and fixedly disposed at a plurality of heights relative to the vibratory trough and configured to respectively measure a plurality of movement parameters of the treatment media at the plurality of heights and generate a plurality of movement signals corresponding to the plurality of movement parameters. The system includes a central controller configured to determine a plurality of process variables corresponding to the plurality of movement signals and control the treatment apparatus based at least on the plurality of process variables.

Abstract: A system for finishing a surface of a workpiece. The system includes a laser unit configured to emit a laser radiation. The system further includes an attenuator disposed within the laser unit and configured to adjust optical parameters of the laser radiation. The system further includes a cavitation chamber storing a liquid medium. The workpiece is mounted within the cavitation chamber and is in contact with the liquid medium. The system further includes at least one lens configured to focus at least a portion of the laser radiation and transmit at least one laser beam towards the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for modifying the mechanical and surface properties of a component. The method involves: removably attaching a component to at least one component support that is located within a vibratory trough of a component treatment apparatus, the at least one component support being a support shaft upon which the component is removably mountable within the vibratory trough; supplying the vibratory trough with treatment media; moving the component support or the vibratory trough so that the component is immersed into the treatment media; vibrating the vibratory trough to provide a substantially uniform surface treatment of the component, the vibratory trough being movable by at least one trough vibrating mechanism whose actuation is controlled by a controller in response to signals received from at least one sensor located on or within the vibratory trough; removing the component from the treatment media; and detaching the component from the component support.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finishing a surface of a component. The method includes installing the component in an apparatus configured to deliver a flow of abrasives to the surface and to generate cavitation bubbles in a liquid contacting the surface using a cavitation generator that includes an ultrasonic generator configured to generate cavitation bubbles in the liquid contacting the surface by ultrasonic excitation in the liquid or a laser configured to generate cavitation bubbles in the liquid contacting the surface by laser excitation in the liquid; controlling the cavitation generator such that cavitation bubbles are generated to finish the surface by implosion of the cavitation bubbles; and controlling the flow of slurry to the surface so as to finish the surface by abrasion. An apparatus for finishing a surface of a component is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finishing a surface of a metal component made by additive manufacturing are provided. The method comprises: containing the component 41 in a fluid 43 that comprises abrasive particles 48; and generating pressure fluctuations that produce acoustic cavitation in the fluid by applying ultrasonic vibration into the fluid by an ultrasonic horn 45, thereby removing material from the surface of the component by a combination of cavitation bubble collapse on the surface and the striking of the surface by abrasive particles 48 accelerated by cavitation bubble collapse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finishing a surface of a metal component made by additive manufacturing are provided. The method comprises: containing the component 41 in a fluid 43 that comprises abrasive particles 48; and generating pressure fluctuations that produce acoustic cavitation in the fluid by applying ultrasonic vibration into the fluid by an ultrasonic horn 45, thereby removing material from the surface of the component by a combination of cavitation bubble collapse on the surface and the striking of the surface by abrasive particles 48 accelerated by cavitation bubble collapse.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for finishing an internal channel of a component. The method comprises installing the component in a flow circuit which is configured to drive a fluid flow through the internal channel and controlling the fluid flow through the internal channel so that cavitation bubbles are continuously generated by a hydrodynamic effect to erode the internal channel by implosion of the cavitation bubbles. The fluid flow may comprise abrasive media which may abrade the internal channel.