Abstract: A laser net shape manufactured BLISK, compressor blade, turbine blade or turbine component including a plurality of overlapping predetermined variable bead widths of a material defining a first material layer, a plurality of overlapping predetermined variable bead widths of a material deposited on top of the first material layer, forming a second material layer; and additional material layers deposited on top of the first material layer and the second material layer. The variable bead width of the deposited material is controlled to maintain the approximately constant percent of bead width overlap. A first 2 to 100 deposited powder layers are deposited by a first laser power and the remaining powder layers are deposited by a laser power that is ramped down over the course of depositing the remaining powder layers. In addition, disclosed is A BLISK, compressor blade, turbine blade or turbine component formed by a method.

Abstract: A laser net shape manufactured BLISK, compressor blade, turbine blade or turbine component including a plurality of overlapping predetermined variable bead widths of a material defining a first material layer, a plurality of overlapping predetermined variable bead widths of a material deposited on top of the first material layer, forming a second material layer; and additional material layers deposited on top of the first material layer and the second material layer. The variable bead width of the deposited material is controlled to maintain the approximately constant percent of bead width overlap. A first 2 to 100 deposited powder layers are deposited by a first laser power and the remaining powder layers are deposited by a laser power that is ramped down over the course of depositing the remaining powder layers. In addition, disclosed is A BLISK, compressor blade, turbine blade or turbine component formed by a method.

Abstract: A method of modifying an end wall contour is provided. The method includes creating a weld pool using a laser, adding a metal or a ceramic powder or a wire filler to the melt pool and modifying the part of the turbine in a manner that results in a change of about 0.005 to about 50 volume percent in the part of the turbine. The weld pool is created on a turbine component and contains molten metal or ceramic derived as a result of a heat interaction between the laser and the turbine component.

Abstract: A method for depositing material on a turbine airfoil having a tip wall extending past a tip cap, wherein the tip wall includes a first alloy with a single crystal microstructure. The method includes: depositing a second alloy on at least a portion of the tip wall to form a repair structure, wherein a high temperature oxidation resistance of the second alloy is greater than a high temperature oxidation resistance of the first alloy, and wherein the repair structure has a crystallographic orientation that is substantially the same as a crystallographic orientation of the tip wall.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for laser cladding a substrate, comprising providing the substrate; depositing a first determined variable bead width of a material along a toolpath upon the substrate; depositing a second adjacent determined variable bead width of a material along the toolpath which overlaps the first determined variable bead width of deposited material; continuing to deposit a plurality of overlapping predetermined adjacent variable bead widths of a material until a first material layer is complete; forming a second material layer by depositing a plurality of overlapping predetermined variable bead widths of a material on top of the first material layer; and continuing to deposit material layers on top of deposited material layers until the cladding is complete; wherein the variable bead width of the deposited material is controlled by a computer having a plurality of input parameters to maintain an approximately constant percent of bead width overlap.

Abstract: A system for producing at least one trench to improve film cooling in a sample is provided. The system includes at least one laser source outputting at least one pulsed laser beam. The pulsed laser beam includes a pulse duration including a range less than about 50 ?s, an energy per pulse having a range less than about 0.1 Joule, and a repetition rate with a range greater than about 1000 Hz. The system also includes a control subsystem coupled to the laser source, the control subsystem configured to synchronize a position of the sample with the pulse duration and energy level in order to selectively remove at least one of a thermal barrier coating, a bondcoat and a substrate metal in the sample to form the at least one trench.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a laser shock peening process includes a sensor connected to a controller. The controller includes an input and a processor. The input is connected to the sensor to receive a signal indicative of a laser shock event at a workpiece. The processor is connected to the input and is configured to determine a time-of-flight of residual energy associated with the laser shock event from the workpiece to the sensor and determine peen quality from the time-of-flight of the residual energy.

Abstract: A method for depositing material on a turbine airfoil having a tip wall extending past a tip cap, wherein the tip wall includes a first alloy with a single crystal microstructure. The method includes: depositing a second alloy on at least a portion of the tip wall to form a repair structure, wherein a high temperature oxidation resistance of the second alloy is greater than a high temperature oxidation resistance of the first alloy, and wherein the repair structure has a crystallographic orientation that is substantially the same as a crystallographic orientation of the tip wall.

Abstract: A system for producing at least one trench to improve film cooling in a sample is provided. The system includes at least one laser source outputting at least one pulsed laser beam. The pulsed laser beam includes a pulse duration including a range less than about 50 ?s, an energy per pulse having a range less than about 0.1 Joule, and a repetition rate with a range greater than about 1000 Hz. The system also includes a control subsystem coupled to the laser source, the control subsystem configured to synchronize a position of the sample with the pulse duration and energy level in order to selectively remove at least one of a thermal barrier coating, a bondcoat and a substrate metal in the sample to form the at least one trench.

Abstract: A laser shock peening system including a workpiece is provided. The laser shock peening system includes a workholding fixture configured to hold the workpiece. The laser shock peening system also includes a laser source configured to emit multiple laser beam pulses on the workpiece. The laser shock peening system further includes an absorptive layer disposed on the workpiece, the absorptive layer configured to absorb the laser beam pulses from the laser source into the workpiece. The laser shock peening system also includes a transparent constraining layer disposed between the laser source and the absorptive layer. The transparent constraining layer is also configured to provide a pressure medium configured to direct multiple reflected laser generated shock waves from the workpiece back into the workpiece. The laser shock peening system also includes a transducer disposed on the workholding fixture and configured to detect multiple acoustic signals emitted from the workpiece.

Abstract: A laser machining system comprises a laser configured to generate a laser output for forming a molten pool on a substrate, a nozzle configured to supply a growth material to the molten pool for depositing the material on the substrate, and an optical unit configured to capture a plurality of grayscale images comprising temperature data during the laser deposition process, wherein the grayscale images correspond to respective ones of a plurality of radiation beams with different desired wavelengths. Further, the laser machining system comprises an image-processing unit configured to process the grayscale images to retrieve the temperature data according to linear relationships between temperatures in the laser deposition process and the corresponding grayscales of the respective images. A laser machining method is also presented.

Abstract: A profilometry apparatus is provided. The profilometry apparatus includes a fringe projection device configured to project a fringe pattern on an object and an optical unit configured to capture an image of a distorted fringe pattern modulated by the object. The profilometry apparatus also includes a signal processing unit configured to process the captured image from the optical unit to filter noise from the image and to obtain real-time estimation of parameters associated with manufacture or repair of the object.

Abstract: A laser shock peening system including a workpiece is provided. The laser shock peening system includes a workholding fixture configured to hold the workpiece. The laser shock peening system also includes a laser source configured to emit multiple laser beam pulses on the workpiece. The laser shock peening system further includes an absorptive layer disposed on the workpiece, the absorptive layer configured to absorb the laser beam pulses from the laser source into the workpiece. The laser shock peening system also includes a transparent constraining layer disposed between the laser source and the absorptive layer. The transparent constraining layer is also configured to provide a pressure medium configured to direct multiple reflected laser generated shock waves from the workpiece back into the workpiece. The laser shock peening system also includes a transducer disposed on the workholding fixture and configured to detect multiple acoustic signals emitted from the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a machining system is provided. The apparatus include an optical unit configured to capture an image of an object based upon radiation generated from the object and an image processing unit configured to process the image and to obtain real-time estimation of parameters associated with manufacture or repair of the object. The apparatus also includes a process model configured to establish target values for the parameters associated with the manufacture or repair of the object based upon process parameters for the machining system and a controller configured to control the process parameters for the machining system based upon the estimated and target values of the parameters associated with the manufacture or repair of the object.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for laser net shape manufacturing a part or repairing an area of a part comprising providing a CAD model of the part to be manufactured or repaired, digitally slicing the CAD model into a plurality of deposition layers, determining a medial axis for each of the deposition layers of the part or repair area; and depositing a bead of a material in a pattern centered upon the medial axis of each of the deposition layers so as to build-up the material by each of the deposition layer until the part is manufactured or repaired.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for laser cladding a substrate, comprising providing the substrate; depositing a first determined variable bead width of a material along a toolpath upon the substrate; depositing a second adjacent determined variable bead width of a material along the toolpath which overlaps the first determined variable bead width of deposited material; continuing to deposit a plurality of overlapping predetermined adjacent variable bead widths of a material until a first material layer is complete; forming a second material layer by depositing a plurality of overlapping predetermined variable bead widths of a material on top of the first material layer; and continuing to deposit material layers on top of deposited material layers until the cladding is complete; wherein the variable bead width of the deposited material is controlled by a computer having a plurality of input parameters to maintain an approximately constant percent of bead width overlap.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising creating a weld pool using a laser; wherein the weld pool is created on a part of a turbine; and wherein the weld pool comprises molten metal or ceramic derived as a result of a heat interaction between the laser and the part of the turbine; adding a metal or a ceramic powder or a wire filler to the melt pool; and modifying the part of the turbine in a manner that results in a change of about 0.005 to about 50 volume percent in the part of the turbine, while improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the turbine in an amount of about 0.1 to about 5 percent over a corresponding unmodified turbine.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, devices, and/or systems for laser net shape manufacturing may make use of a nozzle that includes a main body with a thermal channel, a conducting channel and a gas distribution head. The thermal channel is at least partially within the main body and includes an aperture for passing thermal energy therethrough. The conducting channel includes a conducting outlet aperture that is a located adjacent to the thermal outlet aperture, and powder material can be passed through the conducting outlet aperture. The gas distribution head is capable of distributing shielding gas in a distribution path surrounding the conducting outlet aperture.

Abstract: A laser processing system includes a laser source configured to transmit a laser beam. A hollow focusing device is configured to focus the laser beam to a work piece. A pressure source is coupled to the hollow focusing device and configured to feed a pressurized liquid through the hollow focusing device. A liquid container is configured to receive a portion of the pressurized liquid from the hollow focusing device. The laser beam is transmitted through the pressurized liquid in the hollow focusing device to the work piece disposed in the portion of the pressurized liquid in the liquid container.

Abstract: A profilometry apparatus is provided. The profilometry apparatus includes a fringe projection device configured to project a fringe pattern on an object and an optical unit configured to capture an image of a distorted fringe pattern modulated by the object. The profilometry apparatus also includes a signal processing unit configured to process the captured image from the optical unit to filter noise from the image and to obtain real-time estimation of parameters associated with manufacture or repair of the object.