Abstract: A coating system for coating a part (10), such as a turbine blade or vane, has a mask (14) positioned adjacent to a first portion (16) of the part (10) to be coated and a mechanism (30) for moving the mask (14) relative to the part (10). The mechanism (30) may be a gear mechanism or a magnetic mechanism.

Abstract: An article includes a metallic substrate and a tri-layer thermal barrier coating that is deposited on the metallic substrate. The tri-layer thermal barrier coating includes an inner ceramic layer, an outermost ceramic layer relative to the metallic substrate, and an intermediate ceramic layer between the inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer. The inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer are composed of respective first and second ceramic materials and the intermediate ceramic layers composed of a third, different ceramic material. The inner ceramic layer has a first thickness, the outermost ceramic layer has a second thickness, and the intermediate ceramic layer has a third thickness that is greater than the first thickness and the second thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus deposits a coating on a part. The apparatus comprises a chamber and a sting assembly for carrying the part. The sting assembly is shiftable between: an inserted condition where the sting assembly holds the part within the chamber for coating; and a retracted condition where the sting assembly holds the part outside of the chamber. The apparatus comprises a source of the coating material positioned to communicate the coating material to the part in the inserted condition. The apparatus comprises a thermal hood comprising a first member and a second member. The second member is between the first member and the part when the part is in the inserted condition. The second member is carried by the sting assembly so as to retract with the sting assembly as the sting assembly is retracted from the inserted condition to the retracted condition.

Abstract: An apparatus deposits a coating on a part. The apparatus comprises a chamber and a sting assembly for carrying the part. The sting assembly is shiftable between: an inserted condition where the sting assembly holds the part within the chamber for coating; and a retracted condition where the sting assembly holds the part outside of the chamber. The apparatus comprises a source of the coating material positioned to communicate the coating material to the part in the inserted condition. The apparatus comprises a thermal hood comprising a first member and a second member. The second member is between the first member and the part when the part is in the inserted condition. The second member is carried by the sting assembly so as to retract with the sting assembly as the sting assembly is retracted from the inserted condition to the retracted condition.

Abstract: A deposition apparatus includes a coating chamber and a coating zone within the coating chamber for coating work pieces. A heating source heats the coating zone, and a thermal hood within the coating chamber is located adjacent to the coating zone for controlling a temperature of the coating zone.

Abstract: A method includes generating a plasma plume with a plasma gun, delivering a plurality of coating materials to the plasma plume with a powder feeder assembly to vaporize the coating materials. The delivery includes delivering a first (bond coat) material from a first powder feeder to the plasma gun, ceasing delivery of the first material, increasing a rate of delivery of a second (rare earth stabilized zirconia) material from a second powder feeder to the plasma plume, increasing a rate of delivery of a third material (a rare earth stabilized zirconia material different from the second material) from a third powder feeder to the plasma plume, decreasing a rate of delivery of the second material, and decreasing a rate of delivery of the third material, and depositing the plurality of coating materials on a work piece to produce a layered coating with blended transitions between coating layers.

Abstract: A multilayer coating includes a bond coat layer, a first barrier layer applied on the bond coat layer, and a second barrier layer applied on the first barrier layer. The first barrier layer has a compositional gradient comprising a majority of a first rare earth stabilized zirconia material proximate the bond coat layer to a majority of a second rare earth stabilized zirconia material away from the bond coat layer. The first and second rare earth stabilized zirconia materials are different. The second barrier layer has a compositional gradient comprising a majority of the second rare earth stabilized zirconia material to 100 wt % of a third rare earth stabilized zirconia material away from the first barrier layer.

Abstract: A coating deposition apparatus includes a plurality of mounts that are adapted to mount work pieces at respective work piece locations. A crucible is located adjacent the plurality of mounts for emitting a source coating material. A plurality of gas nozzles are respectively directed at the work piece locations to scatter the emitted source coating material at surfaces of the work pieces that are otherwise difficult to coat.

Abstract: An electron beam vapor deposition apparatus includes a coating chamber including a coating zone for depositing a coating on a work piece. A coating device includes at least one crucible for presenting at least one source coating material. The coating device includes a first deposition mode of depositing the at least one source coating material and a second deposition mode of depositing the at least one source coating material. At least one electron beam source evaporates the at least one source coating material for deposit onto the work piece. A controller is configured to control a speed of movement of the work piece in the coating zone during the coating operation in response to the first deposition mode and the second deposition mode.

Abstract: An electron beam vapor deposition apparatus includes a coating chamber having a first chamber section with a first coating zone for depositing a first coating and a second chamber section with a second coating zone for depositing a second coating. At least one electron beam source is associated with the first chamber section and the second chamber section. A first crucible is adjacent to the first coating zone for presenting a first source coating material, and a second crucible is adjacent to the second coating zone for presenting a second source coating material. A transport is operative to move a work piece between the first coating zone of the first chamber section and the second coating zone of the second chamber section.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a work piece includes a process chamber, a coating material supply apparatus located at least partially within the process chamber for delivering a coating material to the work piece, a pre-heater assembly adjoining the process chamber, and a support for holding the work piece. The pre-heater assembly includes a housing that opens to the process chamber, a thermal hood positioned within the housing and configured to reflect thermal energy for reflecting thermal energy toward the work piece. The support is movable to selectively move the work piece between a first position within the housing of the pre-heater assembly and a second position within the process chamber and outside the housing of the pre-heater assembly.

Abstract: A method for use with a coating process includes depositing a ceramic coating on a substrate within a coating chamber. Prior to depositing the ceramic coating, an electron beam source is used to heat a ceramic material. The ceramic material radiates heat to heat a substrate to an oxidation temperature to form an oxide layer on the substrate. A desired evaporation rate of the ceramic material is established during the heating to thereby provide an improved ceramic coating.

Abstract: A coating system includes a coating source and a planetary manipulator assembly that includes a first driveshaft capable of receiving rotational input, a sun gear rotationally fixed to the first driveshaft, a planetary gear engaged with the sun gear, a second driveshaft rotationally fixed to the planetary gear such that torque is transmitted from the sun gear to the planetary gear, a support shaft operatively engaged with the second driveshaft, a carrier body supporting the planetary gear relative to the sun gear, a third driveshaft capable of receiving rotational input, and a drive gear rotationally fixed to the third driveshaft. The support shaft is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second driveshaft. The carrier body is rotatable by the drive gear about a common axis with the sun gear, and rotation of the carrier body rotates the planetary gear and the second driveshaft about the sun gear.

Abstract: A multilayer coating includes a bond coat layer and a first barrier layer applied on the bond coat layer. The first barrier layer has a compositional gradient comprising a majority of a first rare earth stabilized zirconia material proximate the bond coat layer to a majority of a second rare earth stabilized zirconia material away from the bond coat layer. The first and second rare earth stabilized zirconia materials are different.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a work piece support for holding and selectively rotating a work piece, a coating delivery apparatus configured to apply a coating material to the work piece, a susceptor positioned adjacent to the work piece support, and a first electron gun configured to direct a first electron beam at the susceptor such that the susceptor radiates heat toward the work piece.

Abstract: An apparatus deposits a coating on a part. The apparatus comprises a chamber and a sting assembly for carrying the part. The sting assembly is shiftable between: an inserted condition where the sting assembly holds the part within the chamber for coating; and a retracted condition where the sting assembly holds the part outside of the chamber. The apparatus comprises a source of the coating material positioned to communicate the coating material to the part in the inserted condition. The apparatus comprises a thermal hood comprising a first member and a second member. The second member is between the first member and the part when the part is in the inserted condition. The second member is carried by the sting assembly so as to retract with the sting assembly as the sting assembly is retracted from the inserted condition to the retracted condition.

Abstract: A coating apparatus comprises a coating chamber for coating the articles. The at least one preheat chamber is coupled to the coating chamber. The at least one loading station has a proximal end connectable to at least one of the preheat chambers when in an installed position at a distal end of the preheat chamber. The loading station further includes a carrier for carrying the articles and a drive system. The drive system is positioned to move the carrier between: a loading/unloading position of the carrier in the loading station; a preheat position of the carrier in the preheat chamber to which the loading station is connected; and a deposition position of the carrier in the coating chamber. A gas source is connected to the preheat chamber.

Abstract: A coating deposition apparatus includes a plurality of mounts that are adapted to mount work pieces at respective work piece locations. A crucible is located adjacent the plurality of mounts for emitting a source coating material. A plurality of gas nozzles are respectively directed at the work piece locations to scatter the emitted source coating material at surfaces of the work pieces that are otherwise difficult to coat.

Abstract: A multilayer coating includes a bond coat layer and a first barrier layer applied on the bond coat layer. The first barrier layer has a compositional gradient comprising a majority of a first rare earth stabilized zirconia material proximate the bond coat layer to a majority of a second rare earth stabilized zirconia material away from the bond coat layer. The first and second rare earth stabilized zirconia materials are different.

Abstract: A deposition apparatus includes a coating chamber operative to deposit a coating on workpieces. A preheating chamber is located adjacent to the coating chamber and includes a heating zone receiving the workpieces. A heating source is operative to provide heat to the heating zone. A thermal hood within the preheating chamber is located adjacent to the heating zone and operative to control a temperature of the heating zone.