Apparatus and method useful for, among other things, providing a layer by layer coating of materials on a substrate.

An additive layer manufacturing apparatus comprising a doctor blade (57) having a tip (51) which, in use, is arranged proximal to a material layer (59) to be recoated during an additive layer manufacturing method, the doctor blade (57) having a cavity (50) with an inlet and an outlet, the outlet located at the tip (51) and the inlet connectable to an air supply (53) whereby air can be directed through the cavity (50) to the outlet and onto a surface (59a) of the material layer (59).

An additive layer manufacturing apparatus comprising a doctor blade (57) having a tip (51) which, in use, is arranged proximal to a material layer (59) to be recoated during an additive layer manufacturing method, the doctor blade (57) having a cavity (50) with an inlet and an outlet, the outlet located at the tip (51) and the inlet connectable to an air supply (53) whereby air can be directed through the cavity (50) to the outlet and onto a surface (59a) of the material layer (59).

In a second liquid supply step, a second liquid film and a first liquid film surrounding a side of the second liquid film are formed on an upper surface of a substrate. Then, in a vapor layer formation step, by heating the substrate, a second vapor layer is formed by evaporating the second liquid contacting the upper surface of the substrate, and the second liquid film is held on the second vapor layer. Since the second liquid included in the second liquid film has a high vapor pressure, a height position of a lower surface of the floating second liquid film may be kept high. By blowing a gas to the floating second liquid film, a hole is formed in the second liquid film, and by expanding the hole toward an outer periphery of the substrate, the first liquid and the second liquid are removed outside the substrate.

In a second liquid supply step, a second liquid film and a first liquid film surrounding a side of the second liquid film are formed on an upper surface of a substrate. Then, in a vapor layer formation step, by heating the substrate, a second vapor layer is formed by evaporating the second liquid contacting the upper surface of the substrate, and the second liquid film is held on the second vapor layer. Since the second liquid included in the second liquid film has a high vapor pressure, a height position of a lower surface of the floating second liquid film may be kept high. By blowing a gas to the floating second liquid film, a hole is formed in the second liquid film, and by expanding the hole toward an outer periphery of the substrate, the first liquid and the second liquid are removed outside the substrate.

A method and coating system are provided that use a temperature controlled gas flow to smooth a surface of a ceramic, like a thermal barrier coating (TBC). Thermal spray coating unit coats a ceramic on a surface. The thermal spray coating unit creates a flow of ceramic material towards the surface. A layer of at least partially molten ceramic material on the surface is smoothed by transmitting a flow of temperature controlled gas across the at least partially molten ceramic material on the surface after the thermal spray coating of the ceramic on the surface. The solidified ceramic has a smoother surface that requires much less polishing to attain a desired surface roughness.

A gas wiping device for controlling a thickness of a coating layer deposited on a running metal strip plated with molten metal in an industrial hot-dip installation includes: a main nozzle unit and a secondary nozzle unit, for blowing a wiping jet on a surface of the running strip, the main nozzle unit and secondary nozzle unit respectively including a main and secondary chamber fed by pressurized non-oxidizing gas and at least a main and secondary elongated nozzle slot formed in a tip of the respective main and secondary nozzle units, the tips each including an external top side, facing a downstream side of the running strip, and making an angle with the surface of the running strip. The secondary nozzle unit is adjacent the main nozzle unit over an external top side of the main nozzle unit tip.

An alignment film coating machine and a coating method are provided. The alignment film coating machine includes an equipment for carrying a substrate, a spray head for spraying PI droplets, and an air knife disposed on the equipment and located on one side of the spray head. The air knife is used for moving along the equipment and blowing uniform impact air curtain to the PI droplets after the spray head sprays the PI droplets on the substrate. By adding the air knife into the alignment film coating machine, the diffusion ability of the PI droplets is improved due to the uniform impact air curtain blown by the air knife. The resistance in diffusion is overcome. The PI droplets enter the via hole. Mura, which is induced by a relatively thicker PI film around the via hole as a result of the accumulation of the PI droplets, is prevented.

An alignment film coating machine and a coating method are provided. The alignment film coating machine includes an equipment for carrying a substrate, a spray head for spraying PI droplets, and an air knife disposed on the equipment and located on one side of the spray head. The air knife is used for moving along the equipment and blowing uniform impact air curtain to the PI droplets after the spray head sprays the PI droplets on the substrate. By adding the air knife into the alignment film coating machine, the diffusion ability of the PI droplets is improved due to the uniform impact air curtain blown by the air knife. The resistance in diffusion is overcome. The PI droplets enter the via hole. Mura, which is induced by a relatively thicker PI film around the via hole as a result of the accumulation of the PI droplets, is prevented.

A transfer and coating apparatus transfers a component from a conveyor to a coating station for application of a coating. The transfer apparatus includes a mast that can move about orthogonal axes in a horizontal plane and a mast having a carriage that can move vertically. The carriage includes a hook that swings about a horizontal axis relative to the mast for movement of the component in the horizontal direction. A sway bar extends between the hook and component to inhibit movement about a horizontal axis. The component is delivered to an upper compartment of a coating apparatus where it can be lowered in to a lower compartment containing coating material. Excess coating material is removed by an array of nozzles in the upper compartment as the component is raised from the coating material.