Abstract: An apparatus and method for an inspection apparatus for inspecting a component. The inspection apparatus including a robotic arm. A micro-XRF instrument having an instrument head coupled to the robotic arm. A seat supporting the component within a scanning area during inspection; and a computer in communication with the robotic arm and the micro-XRF instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an inspection apparatus for inspecting a component. The inspection apparatus including a robotic arm. A micro-XRF instrument having an instrument head coupled to the robotic arm. A seat supporting the component within a scanning area during inspection; and a computer in communication with the robotic arm and the micro-XRF instrument.

Abstract: A method and system for inspecting components, such as a rotating component of a turbomachines having one or more slots along a perimeter thereof. The method entails mounting to a robotic apparatus a probe assembly that includes a holder assembly to which a probe tip is mounted, an eddy current coil within the probe tip and adjacent a first face thereof, a touch probe contact located at a second face of the probe tip, an element for enabling relative movement between the probe tip and holder assembly, and an element for biasing the probe tip relative to the holder assembly in a direction parallel to the movement. The probe tip is then placed in a slot and caused to travel along the surface of the slot to electromagnetically inspect the slot for cracks in its surface while the first face of the probe tip is maintained in contact with a slot surface.

Abstract: A continuous motion laser shock peening apparatus and method for laser shock peening a workpiece. A laser controller modulates and fires a laser beam from a laser unit. A motion controller is controllably connected to a manipulator and to the laser controller to fire the laser beam based on axis position feedback from a speed control of the motion controller. The laser controller has a standby mode for flashing a laser flash lamp at a flash rate without triggering the laser beam and a firing mode that triggers and fires the laser beam in laser beam pulses. The laser controller includes a synchronizing means for synchronizing a triggering signal provided to the laser interface controller by the computerized motion controller to fire the laser beam pulses and the flash rate substantially at a time when the laser beam pulses are to be generated.

Abstract: A method and system for inspecting components, such as a rotating component of a turbomachines having one or more slots along a perimeter thereof. The method entails mounting to a robotic apparatus a probe assembly that includes a holder assembly to which a probe tip is mounted, an eddy current coil within the probe tip and adjacent a first face thereof, a touch probe contact located at a second face of the probe tip, an element for enabling relative movement between the probe tip and holder assembly, and an element for biasing the probe tip relative to the holder assembly in a direction parallel to the movement. The probe tip is then placed in a slot and caused to travel along the surface of the slot to electromagnetically inspect the slot for cracks in its surface while the first face of the probe tip is maintained in contact with a slot surface.

Abstract: A laser shock peening apparatus includes a laser unit for generating at least one laser beam aimed at a laser shock peening area and an anti-feedback means for preventing electromagnetic radiation reflections from the target area from entering the laser unit during laser shock peening and the anti-feedback means is located between the laser unit and a final focusing lens. The anti-feedback means may include an optical isolator at an output of the laser unit such as a faraday isolator. Alternative optical isolators may include thin film polarizers, glan prism polarizers, independent pig tailed optical isolators, mirrors with enhanced P or S polarization coatings. The laser unit may include an oscillator and a final amplifier and the output of the laser unit located after the final amplifier.

Abstract: A laser unit includes a laser beam source for generating a laser beam along a laser beam centerline. A beam tube surrounds at least a portion of the beam centerline. A beam aperture is located at an exit of the tube. A final beam optical lens is mounted within the tube upstream of the aperture. A gas purging means flows purge gas into the tube between the lens and the aperture. A converging section of the tube is located between the lens and the aperture. At least one telescoping section in the tube is located between the lens and the aperture in the converging section of the tube. The lens has a focal number less than 8 and may be less than 7 and down to about 5. A gas knife located between the aperture and the focal point of the lens is used for flowing a large volume of clearing gas across the laser beam between the aperture and the focal point.