A method of repairing a superalloy component includes a series of sequential steps. The steps are, cleaning the component, applying brazing material to the component, heat treating the component, inspecting the component, preparing the surface of the component, welding the component, and performing a second inspection of the component. The superalloy component is comprised of a high gamma prime superalloy.

A method for repairing, refurbishing, or replacing a turbine engine component or sub-component includes the steps of providing a turbine engine component or sub-component having a site to be repaired, refurbished, or replaced providing a repair or replacement material having a sulfur content, which sulfur content is less than 10 ppm, and applying the repair or replacement material to the site on the turbine engine component to effect the repair, the refurbishment, or the replacement.

An automated welding system includes a mounting platform, a welding tool, an imaging device configured to acquire data associated with an object, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the acquired data, determine an area to be welded in the acquired data, retrieve stored master model data associated with the object, and compare the acquired data to the stored master model data to identify a master model area in the acquired data. The controller is also configured to mask the master model area in the acquired data, such that the master model area is excluded from the area to be welded, and generate control instructions for controlling at least one of the mounting platform and the welding tool to weld the area to be welded.

A repair method for a component having a damaged portion on a surface thereof includes obtaining a feedstock mixture comprising base material particles and a binder, forming a preform with the feedstock mixture, placing the preform on the damaged portion of the surface of the component, and subjecting the component and the preform to at least one thermal cycle for forming a metallurgical bond in a solid state between the preform and the surface of the component after the at least one thermal cycle, the at least one thermal cycle occurring below a melting temperature of the component and the preform. A repair method involving pouring fluid feedstock mixture on a damaged portion of the surface of the component is also disclosed.

A method of treating a superalloy article, including selecting an article having a superalloy composition, whereby the article has a treatable feature on its surface. The method further includes removing a base alloy from a region abutting a first portion of the treatable feature. The method further includes treating a second portion of the treatable feature with a treatment composition to remove surface oxides. The method further includes inserting a treatment material into the first portion of the treatable feature followed by depositing the base alloy in the first portion of the treatable feature. The method further includes heat treating the article at a temperature above the melting point of the treatment material whereby the treatment material flows into the second portion of the treatable feature forming a treated article.

A method for improving the surface of an aluminum alloy article includes manufacturing the aluminum alloy article using an additive manufacturing technique, wherein the article as-manufactured includes one or more of cracks, roughness, or porosity at a surface of the article; coating the surface of the aluminum alloy article with a diffusion element, the diffusion element being capable of diffusing at least 0.2 mils into the article; heating the aluminum alloy article coated with the diffusion element to cause the diffusion element to diffuse the at least 0.2 mils into the article, thereby forming a diffusion layer of at least 0.2 mils in thickness comprising both aluminum alloy and diffusion element; and removing the diffusion layer from the aluminum alloy article, whereby upon the removing, a resulting improved surface of the article comprises fewer or smaller cracks, reduced roughness, or reduced porosity.

A method for improving the surface of an aluminum alloy article includes manufacturing the aluminum alloy article using an additive manufacturing technique, wherein the article as-manufactured includes one or more of cracks, roughness, or porosity at a surface of the article; coating the surface of the aluminum alloy article with a diffusion element, the diffusion element being capable of diffusing at least 0.2 mils into the article; heating the aluminum alloy article coated with the diffusion element to cause the diffusion element to diffuse the at least 0.2 mils into the article, thereby forming a diffusion layer of at least 0.2 mils in thickness comprising both aluminum alloy and diffusion element; and removing the diffusion layer from the aluminum alloy article, whereby upon the removing, a resulting improved surface of the article comprises fewer or smaller cracks, reduced roughness, or reduced porosity.

A component has an edge extending in a first direction. The component includes a filler disposed in the component. The filler has at least a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends in a second direction from the edge into the component. The second portion of the filler extends from the first portion in a third direction. The second direction is substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

Methods of superalloy article repair are provided. In some embodiments, a method for repairing a nickel-based superalloy article comprises providing a layered assembly over a damaged region of the nickel-based superalloy article, the layered assembly comprising a nickel-based superalloy preform, an infiltration alloy preform and a melting point depressant component. The layered assembly is heated to form a nickel-based filler alloy metallurgically bonded to the damaged region, wherein primary carbide and secondary carbide phases are present in the nickel-based filler alloy in a combined amount of 0.5 to 10 vol. %.

A method for improving the surface of an aluminum alloy article includes manufacturing the aluminum alloy article using an additive manufacturing technique, wherein the article as-manufactured includes one or more of cracks, roughness, or porosity at a surface of the article; coating the surface of the aluminum alloy article with a diffusion element, the diffusion element being capable of diffusing at least 0.2 mils into the article; heating the aluminum alloy article coated with the diffusion element to cause the diffusion element to diffuse the at least 0.2 mils into the article, thereby forming a diffusion layer of at least 0.2 mils in thickness comprising both aluminum alloy and diffusion element; and removing the diffusion layer from the aluminum alloy article, whereby upon the removing, a resulting improved surface of the article comprises fewer or smaller cracks, reduced roughness, or reduced porosity.