Abstract: A method of making a sheath for an airfoil may include the steps of forming an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve, and forming a central portion bonded to the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve. The central portion may be formed by depositing a material on the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve. A portion of the material may be removed from at least one of the central portion, the upper sleeve, or the lower sleeve. The sheath may include a first flank, a central portion bonded to the first flank, and a second flank bonded to the central portion. The central portion may have a substantially uniform microstructure resulting from additive manufacturing.

Abstract: A method is provided for additive manufacturing. This method includes monitoring a current to a recoater blade. The monitored current is compared to a predetermined current. An operation is initiated in response to the monitored current exceeding the predetermined current. Another method for additive manufacturing includes comparing a movement of a recoater blade to an expected movement. A single exposure sequence is initiated in response to movement of the recoater blade being different than an expected movement. An additive manufacturing system is also provided which includes a recoated blade and a control. The control is operable to identify resistance to movement of the recoater blade.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes an ultrasonic inspection system integrated in such a way as to minimize time needed for an inspection process. The inspection system may have an ultrasonic phased array integrated into a build table for detecting defects in each successive slice of a workpiece and such that each slice may be re-melted if and when defects are detected.

Abstract: Embodiments include techniques for determining the uniformity of a powder layer distribution, where the techniques include pre-heating a powder layer, scanning the powder layer, and receiving a signal from the powder layer. The techniques also include filtering the received signal, measuring a radiation intensity of the received signal over a range of wavelengths, and comparing the measured radiation intensity to a reference spectrum for the powder layer.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a flow channel operatively connecting a channel inlet to a channel outlet to channel fluid to flow therethrough. The flow channel is defined at least partially by a shape change material. The shape change material changes the shape of the flow channel based on the temperature of the shape change material. The shape change material can include a shape-memory alloy, for example. The shape-memory alloy can include at least one of a nickel-titanium alloy (NiTi), Cu—Al—(X), Cu—Sn, Cu—Zn—(X), In—Ti, Ni—Al, Fe—Pt, Mn—Cu, or Fe—Mn—Si.

Abstract: A build plate for an additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The build plate includes a support structure, a sub-plate, and one or more transducers. The support structure is configured to support a stack of sintered layers of a pulverant material. Further, the support structure extends orthogonally to a build direction. The sub-plate is arranged along the support structure, and defines a transducer cavity. One or more transducers are arranged in the transducer cavities. The one or more transducers are operable to cause vibration of the support structure and the stack parallel to the build direction. Such vibration relieves internal stresses caused by sintering of the stack.

Abstract: A structure includes a first body section that has a wall that spans in a vertical direction. The wall has a relatively thin thickness with respect to a length and a width of the wall. A second body section is arranged next to, but spaced apart from, the first body section. A gusset connects the first body section and the second body section. The gusset extends obliquely from the wall of the first body section with respect to the vertical direction such that the gusset is self-supporting. The first body section has a geometry that corresponds to an end-use component exclusive of the gusset.

Abstract: An active clearance control valve (ACC Valve) includes a valve housing with a thermal shield provided externally to said housing, wherein said valve housing and said thermal shield have been integrally formed as one component. This may be achieved using additive manufacturing methods. Cooling channels and/or ribs may also be provided on or in the thermal shield.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a structure can include a first body formed from a first material, and a second body disposed on or embedded within the first body. The second body includes a shape memory alloy configured to provide a first stress to the first body in a first state and a second stress to the first body in a second state. The shape memory alloy is configured to transition from the first and second state as a function of an applied activation energy.

Abstract: A method of depositing powder in an additive manufacturing system includes driving a recoater along a drive axis and oscillating the recoater along an oscillation axis. The recoater is oscillated while the recoater is driven along the drive axis to overcome the effect of one or more particle movement restriction mechanisms for smoothing powder deposited in a build chamber of an additive manufacturing system.

Abstract: A selective vapor deposition method is provided and includes evaporating a precursor material in a low vacuum evaporating chamber to produce a precursor vapor, evacuating the precursor vapor into a nozzle of a venturi element and accelerating the precursor vapor through a diffuser of the venturi element and toward a target build surface.

Abstract: A component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a first section, a second section, and a functionally graded section. The first section is made of a metal material. The second section is made of a ceramic material and/or a ceramic matrix composite material. The functionally graded section is disposed between the first section and the second section.

Abstract: A method is provided for additive manufacturing. This method includes monitoring a current to a recoater blade. The monitored current is compared to a predetermined current. An operation is initiated in response to the monitored current exceeding the predetermined current. Another method for additive manufacturing includes comparing a movement of a recoater blade to an expected movement. A single exposure sequence is initiated in response to movement of the recoater blade being different than an expected movement. An additive manufacturing system is also provided which includes a recoated blade and a control. The control is operable to identify resistance to movement of the recoater blade.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing of a component includes cutting a plurality of sheets, each sheet corresponding to a respective cross-section of the component, tack welding the sheets to one another to form a stack, arranging the stack in a mold, and spark plasma sintering the tack-welded stack of sheets to reduce vacancies and dislocations between adjacent sheets of the stack.

Abstract: A aerodynamic particle separator for an Additive Manufacturing System (AMS) has an air supply device to entrain a mixed powder in an airstream flowing through a housing. Each particle in the mixed powder is imparted with a momentum dependent upon the particle weight and size. Utilizing this momentum characteristic, the heavier particles are capable of crossing streamlines of the airstream at a bend portion of the housing and the lighter particles generally stay within the streamlines. Utilizing this dynamic characteristic, the particles of specific weight ranges are collected through respective offtake holes in the housing and controllably fed to a spreader of the AMS.

Abstract: A fan blade includes a blade body and a shape memory alloy actuator. The blade body has a pressure side disposed opposite a suction side. Each of the pressure side and the suction side extends radially from a root towards a tip and extends axially from a leading edge towards a trailing edge. The blade body defines a passageway that is disposed between the pressure side and the suction side. The shape memory alloy actuator is received within the passageway and is operatively connected to the blade body.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of this disclosure, a coating includes a plurality of elongated reinforcing materials. The coating includes a bond coat in which a first portion of a first elongated reinforcing material is embedded. The coating further includes a ceramic coat adjacent the bond coat in which a second portion of the first elongated reinforcing material is embedded.

Abstract: A Blade Outer Air Seal (BOAS) includes a body manufactured of a metal alloy, the body includes a face opposite a forward interface and an aft interface, the face includes a cavity. A non-metallic insert within the cavity such that the insert is flush with the face.

Abstract: A method of producing a heat exchanger includes designing the heat exchanger to include a wall with a target thickness. A model is created relating process parameters to geometry of a single track melt pool and relating the single track melt pool geometry to a heat exchanger wall thickness. At least one variable process parameter is defined. The model, heat exchanger wall target thickness, and variable process parameters are used to identify a set of process parameters to produce the heat exchanger wall target thickness. The melt pool geometry is predicted based on the model and process parameters. The heat exchanger wall target thickness is predicted based on the melt pool geometry. The process parameters that will produce the heat exchanger wall target thickness are identified. The additive manufacturing process is controlled based upon the identified set of process parameters to create the heat exchanger wall target thickness.

Abstract: A method includes issuing a state change fluid into an internal passage of an additively manufactured article and causing the state change fluid to change from a first state having a first viscosity to a second state that is either solid or has a second viscosity that is higher than the first viscosity within the internal passage. The method can also include causing the state change fluid to change back from the second state to the first state and flushing the state change fluid from the internal passage to remove residual powder from the additively manufactured article.