A source of heat energy and a source of material for performing a material additive process upon the thin wall member is disclosed. A fixture is located relative to the thin wall element. The source of heat energy used for forming a joining member between the workpiece and the fixture to fixedly secure the fixture to the workpiece preventing the thin wall member from deforming when subject to the source of heat energy. A direct material additive process is upon the thin wall member adding material to the thin wall member to improve physical characteristics of the thin wall member. The joining member is mechanically removed from the workpiece after the work piece cools. A portion of the material is mechanically removed from the thin wall member to achieve desired dimensional characteristics.

A method for closing a hole penetrating a hole height from a first surface of a metal article through a second surface of the metal article is disclosed including removing a portion of the metal article surrounding the hole from the metal article. The portion includes a depth extending from the first surface into the metal article and terminating prior to the second surface. Removing the portion forms a support surface within the hole adjacent and opposite to the second surface. A metal support structure is disposed within the hole on the support surface, and a metal composition is applied into the hole and onto the metal support structure. The metal support structure, the metal composition, and the metal article are fused together.

A new electrospark deposition (ESD) method and related system are provided in the present invention based on the use of a magnetized electrode, namely magnetic-aided ESD (M-ESD). In particular, the present invention uses a magnetized electrode (either magnetized by an electro-magnet or being a permanent magnet) to attract fine coating powders at the tip thereof which acts as a soft brush to coat on intricate surface profiles. Accordingly, the method of the present invention is able to provide a soft contact between the magnetized anode and the workpiece to be coated or manipulated. The present invention is useful in various surface engineering applications in the fields of aeronautical (e.g. restoration and repair of damaged aircraft turbine blades), nuclear reactors, military engineering, and in medical industries. As compared to conventional ESD, the present invention can address complicated surface geometries and internal surfaces while the cost can be significantly lowered by using inexpensive components and simplified method steps.

A method for closing a plurality of holes penetrating from a first surface of a metal article through a second surface of the metal article is disclosed including applying the metal composition to the first surface along a bridging application path. The bridging application path passes over the plurality of holes between a first edge of each of the plurality of holes and a second edge of each of the plurality of holes. Applying the metal composition along the bridging application path closes the plurality of holes.

A method for hardfacing a metal article is disclosed including applying a first pass of a metal composition to a surface of the metal article along a first application path, applying a second pass of the metal composition to the surface along a second application path, and applying a third pass of the metal composition to the surface along a third application path between the first application path and the second application path. The first pass and the second pass form a hardfacing perimeter, and the third pass fills in the hardfacing perimeter.

Strip cladding heads having independent strip pressure adjustments and strip cladding systems with strip cladding heads having independent strip pressure adjustments are disclosed. A disclosed example cladding head for strip cladding system includes a first contact jaw, a second contact jaw, and a third contact jaw. The first contact jaw includes first and second contacts to deliver welding power to a cladding strip that is driven between the first and second contacts. The second contact jaw includes third and fourth contacts to deliver the welding power to the cladding strip that is driven between the third and fourth contacts. The third contact jaw includes fifth and sixth contacts to deliver the welding power to the cladding strip that is driven between the fifth and sixth contacts, where the first, second, and third contact jaws selectively provide symmetrical contact with the cladding strip across a width of the cladding strip when the cladding strip has one of at least three incremental strip widths, and the three incremental strip widths correspond to ones of the first, second, and third contact jaws.

A process for producing a 3D article by additive manufacture is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming a meltpool on an already-existing part of the article using heat supplied to the article by a gas metal arc welding device having one or more consumable electrodes, and moving the meltpool relative thereto; simultaneously feeding into the moving meltpool: (i) the one or more consumable electrodes of the gas metal arc welding device to provide a first material feed rate into the meltpool, and (ii) a non-electrode, supplementary feedstock to provide a second material feed rate into the meltpool, whereby a layer of material is deposited and fused on the already-existing part; and repeating the forming and moving, and the feeding steps to build up successive layers of material, and thereby produce the 3D article. The ratio of the first material feed rate to the second material feed rate is varied in performance of the feeding step. A related process for surface cladding an article is also provided.

A method for producing an additively manufactured object includes melting and solidifying a filler metal by use of an arc, and depositing and forming a plurality of layers of molten beads to produce a built-up object, and the method includes: shaping the molten bead of a previous layer; and monitoring a temperature of the molten bead of the previous layer. Shaping of the molten bead of a next layer is started when the temperature of the molten bead of the previous layer is equal to or lower than an allowable interpass temperature.

A method of joining together adjacent overlapping copper workpieces by way of resistance spot welding involves providing a workpiece stack-up that includes a first copper workpiece and a second copper workpiece that lies adjacent to the first copper workpiece. The faying surface of the first copper workpiece includes a projection that ascends beyond a surrounding base surface of the faying surface and makes contact, either directly or indirectly, with an opposed faying surface of the second copper workpiece. Once provided, a compressive force is applied against the first and second copper workpieces and an electric current is passed momentarily through the first and second copper workpieces. The electric current initially flows through the projection to generate and concentrate heat within the projection prior to the projection collapsing. This concentrated heat surge allows a metallurgical joint to be established between the first and second copper workpieces.

Methods of additively manufacturing a manufactured component and systems that perform the methods. The methods include determining an energy application parameter at an addition location on a previously formed portion of the manufactured component. The energy application parameter includes an overlap volume between a virtual geometric shape, which is positioned at the addition location, and the previously formed portion of the manufactured component. The methods also include supplying a feedstock material to the addition location. The methods further include delivering, from an energy source and to the addition location, an amount of energy sufficient to form a melt pool of the feedstock material at the addition location. The amount of energy is based, at least in part, on the energy application parameter. The methods also include consolidating the melt pool with a previously formed portion of the manufactured component to form an additional portion of the manufactured component.