Abstract: An additive manufacturing system may include a controller operably coupled to a vision system and an additive manufacturing machine. The controller may be configured to determine a workpiece-interface of each of a plurality of workpieces from one or more digital representations of one or more fields of view having been captured by a vision system and determining one or more coordinates of the workpiece-interface of respective ones of the plurality of workpieces, and to transmit one or more print commands to an additive manufacturing machine so as to additively print a plurality of extension segments on the workpiece-interface of respective ones of the plurality of workpieces, with the one or more print commands having been generated based at least in part on the one or more digital representations of the one or more fields of view.

Abstract: A build plate-clamping assembly may include a work station having a build plate-receiving surface and a lock-pin extending from the build plate-receiving surface of the work station. The lock-pin may include a hollow pin body, a piston disposed within the hollow pin body, with the piston axially movable from a retracted position to an actuated position, and a plurality of detents, with the plurality of detents radially extensible through respective ones of a plurality of detent-apertures in the hollow pin body responsive to the piston having been axially moved to the actuated position. A methods of working on workpieces may include lockingly engaging a build plate at a first work station, performing a first work-step, releasing the build plate from the first work station, lockingly engaging the build plate at a second work station, and performing a second work-step.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems, methods, and computer readable media may be configured to perform a calibration. Calibrating an additive manufacturing system may include comparing a digital representation of one or more calibration marks to a calibration-CAD model that includes one or more model calibration marks, and applying a calibration adjustment to one or more CAD models based at least in part on the comparison. The digital representation of the one or more calibration marks may have been obtained using a vision system, and the one or more calibration marks may have been printed on a calibration surface according to the calibration-CAD model using an additive manufacturing machine. The calibration adjustment may be configured to align the one or more CAD models with one or more coordinates of the additive manufacturing system.

Abstract: Provided are workpiece-assemblies, and systems and methods for aligning a plurality of workpieces with a build plane. A system may include an alignment plate, one or more elevating blocks, and a workpiece-assembly. A workpiece-assembly may include a build plate that has a plurality of workpiece docks, a plurality of workpiece shoes that have a slot configured to receive a portion of one or more workpieces respectively inserted or insertable into the plurality of workpiece docks, a plurality of biasing members respectively situated or situatable between the build plate and the plurality of workpiece shoes so as to exert a biasing force upon the workpiece shoes, and one or more clamping mechanisms coupled or couplable to the build plate and operable to secure the plurality of workpiece shoes within the respective workpiece docks.

Abstract: A tooling assembly and method of aligning a plurality of components for a repair process in an additive manufacturing machine includes positioning the plurality of components such that a repair surface of each of the plurality of components contacts an alignment plate, e.g., under the force of gravity or using biasing members. The method further includes surrounding the alignment plate with containment walls to define a reservoir around the plurality of components and dispensing a fill material, such as wax or a potting material, into the reservoir which is configured for fixing a relative position of the plurality of components when the fill material is solidified.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system may include a controller operably coupled to a vision system and an additive manufacturing machine. The controller may be configured to determine in a library-CAD model, a nominal model-interface traversing a nominal model corresponding to a workpiece, to compare the nominal model-interface of the library-CAD model to a digital representation of a workpiece-interface of the workpiece, where the digital representation has been obtained using the vision system, and to generate a model of an extension segment based at least in part on the nominal model-interface, with the model of the extension segment being configured to be additively printed on the workpiece-interface of the workpiece.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine for repairing a component includes a build platform that supports the component and a powder dispensing assembly for selectively depositing additive powder over the build platform. A powder seal assembly includes a powder support plate positioned above the build platform and defining an aperture for receiving the component without contacting the component. A clamping mechanism is movable relative to the powder support plate and defines a void for receiving a resilient sealing element around the aperture. An actuating mechanism, such as bolts or a linear actuator, moves the clamping mechanism toward the powder support plate to deform the resilient sealing element until the resilient sealing element contacts and forms a seal with the component.

Abstract: An automated welding system includes a mounting platform configured to receive an object, a welding tool, an imaging device configured to acquire at least one image associated with the object, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the at least one acquired image, analyze at least one pixel in the at least one acquired image, identify, based upon the analyzing, an area to be welded in the at least one acquired image, wherein the area to be welded includes a defect, and generate, based upon the identifying, control instructions for controlling at least one of the mounting platform and the welding tool to weld the area to be welded.

Abstract: An automated welding system includes a mounting platform, a welding tool, an imaging device configured to acquire data associated with an object, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the acquired data, determine an area to be welded in the acquired data, retrieve stored master model data associated with the object, and compare the acquired data to the stored master model data to identify a master model area in the acquired data. The controller is also configured to mask the master model area in the acquired data, such that the master model area is excluded from the area to be welded, and generate control instructions for controlling at least one of the mounting platform and the welding tool to weld the area to be welded.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing an aluminide coating from at least one surface of a metal-based substrate by: (a) contacting the surface of the substrate with at least one stripping composition comprising nitric acid at a temperature less than about 20° C. to degrade the coating without damaging the substrate; and (b) removing the degraded coating without damaging the substrate. Also disclosed is a method for replacing a worn or damaged aluminide coating on at least one surface of a metal-based substrate by selectively removing the coating using the above steps, and then applying a new aluminide coating to the surface of the substrate. Turbine engine parts, such as high-pressure turbine blades, treated using the above methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing an aluminide coating from at least one surface of a metal-based substrate by: (a) contacting the surface of the substrate with at least one stripping composition comprising nitric acid at a temperature less than about 20° C. to degrade the coating without damaging the substrate; and (b) removing the degraded coating without damaging the substrate. Also disclosed is a method for replacing a worn or damaged aluminide coating on at least one surface of a metal-based substrate by selectively removing the coating using the above steps, and then applying a new aluminide coating to the surface of the substrate. Turbine engine parts, such as high-pressure turbine blades, treated using the above methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of rejuvenating a diffusion aluminide coating on a component. The rejuvenation process involves treating the coating with an aqueous solution of nitric acid and phosphoric acid until at least part of the additive layer of the coating has been removed, but the diffusion zone underlying the additive layer remains. The exposed surface of the component is then re-aluminized to deposit additional aluminum to build up the additive layer to a desired thickness. While potentially useful for a variety of situations, the process is particularly applicable to a diffusion aluminide coating that has been deposited on a component to have an excessively thick additive layer, and prior to the component being returned to service.