Abstract: A control system for verifying propriety of welding wire for welding a part includes a spool containing the welding wire mounted to a welding machine. The spool contains an identification label which is automatically readable by a scanner positioned adjacent thereto. A controller is operatively joined to the welding machine for controlling welding start-up and a specified welding operation of the part which requires a specified welding wire. The controller is operatively joined also to the scanner for automatically reading the spool label to identify the welding wire thereon which is compared in the controller with the specified welding wire, with welding start-up of the part being prevented unless the specified welding wire matches the identified welding wire.

Abstract: A composite, ceramic/metallic fabricated blade unit for an axial flow rotor includes an elongated metallic support member having an airfoil-shaped strut, one end of which is connected to a dovetail root for attachment to the rotor disc, while the opposite end thereof includes an end cap of generally airfoil-shape. The circumferential undercut extending between the end cap and the blade root is clad with an airfoil-shaped ceramic member such that the cross-section of the ceramic member substantially corresponds to the airfoil-shaped cross-section of the end cap, whereby the resulting composite ceramic/metallic blade has a smooth, exterior airfoil surface. The metallic support member has a longitudinally extending opening through which coolant is passed during the fabrication of the blade.