A method for forming a hollow component includes injecting a fluid into an internal cavity of the hollow component to achieve a pressure of the fluid within the internal cavity that is greater than an ambient pressure. The method further includes drilling at least one hole through the hollow component from an external surface of the hollow component to the internal cavity by applying a laser beam to the hollow component with a laser generator. The method further includes directing the fluid from the internal cavity and through the at least one hole so as to exit the hollow component via the at least one hole.

Laminate components and methods for forming the same are provided. In one exemplary aspect, one or more features are laser cut into or along a laminate component or laminate sections thereof. The features are laser cut into or along the laminate component in an atmosphere. In this manner, and oxide layer is formed on the laser cut surfaces of the future. The features are laser cut into or along the laminate component or laminate sections thereof prior to an infiltration process, such as melt infiltration or chemical vapor infiltration. Accordingly, when the laminate component is infiltrated with an infiltration material, the infiltration material is prevented from infiltrating therethrough.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for composite-to-metal hybrid bonded structures compromising the laser surface treatment on titanium alloys to promote adhesive bond performance. For example, a computer may be programmed to set a laser path corresponding to a predetermined geometric pattern. A laser may be coupled to the computer and apply a pulsed laser beam to a contact surface of the titanium alloy along the predefined geometric pattern. The laser may generate an open pore oxide layer on the contact surface of the substrate with a thickness of 100 and 500 nm. The open pore oxide layer may have a topography corresponding to the predefined geometric pattern. The topography may contain high degree of open pore structure and promote adhesive bond performance. Adhesive, primer or composite resin matrix may fully infiltrate into the open pore structures. Adhesive and composite laminate may co-cure to form composite-to-titanium hybrid bonded structures.

An air seal may comprise an annular ring defined by at least a proximal surface, a distal surface, an aft side and a forward side. A channel may be disposed in the forward side of the air seal and/or the aft side of the air seal and may extend between the proximal surface and the distal surface. An additional channel extending from at least one of the forward side or the aft side may be disposed in the distal surface. The channel and the additional channel may be circumferentially in line. The channels may define a flow path for direction cooling air from a proximal side of the air seal to a distal side of the air seal. The radial channel may interface with the axial channel at an edge of the air seal.

A pump bearing holder has a carrier portion configured to carry a static set of magnets of a pump magnetic bearing and a support portion extending outwardly of the carrier portion to connect with a pump casing such that the pump bearing holder spans an inlet provided in the pump housing. The support portion defines a plurality of internal through-passages that, in use, allow a gas flowing through the inlet to flow through the support portion.

A method for manufacturing a part by additive manufacturing, the part to be manufactured including at least one portion to be held forming an angle of less than 45° with respect to a building direction of the part to be manufactured, the portion to be held having a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface opposite each other, the method comprising the steps of: providing a digital model of the part to be manufactured, adding to the digital model at least one holding element positioned on one side of the portion to be held, so as to be in contact with said first lateral surface or said second lateral surface.

A microturbine including a combustor, an igniter disposed adjacent to the combustor, and a plurality of fuel nozzles disposed adjacent to the combustor. The combustor includes a plurality of laser holes located merely in a region of the combustor.

A computer-implemented method for optimizing control of a process includes a computer receiving a process definition and a collection of elements to be arranged in a way that optimizes the utility of the process; initializing the process using a collection of discrete elements (stops, events, work orders, tasks, locations, etc.), and producing a solution for said collection by inserting the elements into the solution using the Minimum Insertion Heuristic; modifying the order of the elements to be inserted and continuing the process to produce solutions with better scores; and continuing to produce solutions based on improving the order of insertion until the process is determined to be sufficiently optimized.

A system is provided for performing an operation on a component of an engine. The component includes a first side positioned within an interior of the engine. The system includes a first robotic arm defining a first distal end and including a first utility member positioned at the first distal end, the first robotic arm moveable to the interior of the engine to a location operably adjacent to the first side of the component; and a second robotic arm defining a second distal end and including a second utility member positioned at the second distal end, the second robotic arm also moveable to the interior of the engine to facilitate the first and second utility members performing the operation on the component of the engine.

A method of forming a film cooling hole in a component having an internal surface and an external surface is disclosed herein that includes forming the component with a first feature on the external surface, measuring a geometry of the external surface to determine a first placement of the first feature, and drilling the film cooling hole through the component at the first placement.