A method for masking cooling passages of a turbine component having an external surface, an internal cavity for receiving cooling air, and cooling passages extending therebetween. The location and angle of cooling passages are determined using a robotic arm and a location system. A masking device is placed in the cooling passages located during the locating step. The masking device includes a head portion having a gripping feature for gripping by a robotic arm, and a locating feature for orientation of the masking device by the robotic arm. A retaining portion extending from the head portion is arranged and disposed to retain the masking device in a cooling passage. The retaining portion is narrower proximate a distal end than proximate the head portion. The component and head portion of the masking devices are coated. The masking devices may be removed using the robotic arm and locating system.

An example system includes at least one acoustic sensor configured to generate at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal indicative of an acoustic signal generated by a thermal spray system performing a process associated with a plurality of process attributes. The example system includes a computing device including an acoustic data signal module and a control module. The acoustic data signal processing module may transform the at least one time-dependent acoustic data signal to a frequency-domain spectrum. The control module may determine a process attribute of the plurality of process attributes that deviates from a predetermined operating range by identifying at least one characteristic of the frequency-domain spectrum, selecting at least one component of the thermal spray system based on the process attribute, and controlling the thermal spray system to adjust the process attribute toward the predetermined operating range by sending a control signal to the at least one component.

A thermally sprayed coating is formed on an inner surface of a cylinder bore of a cylinder block by using a thermal spray gun. The thermal spray gun is reciprocated along an axial direction in the cylinder bore while being rotated, and injects melted droplets generated by melting a wire made of a ferrous material from a nozzle at its end. At this time, a moving speed of the thermal spray gun along the axial direction into the cylinder bore is made equal-to or larger-than a predetermined value, and the number of reciprocating cycles of the thermal spray gun along the axial direction into the cylinder bore is made equal-to or larger-than a predetermined value.

A power coating system for a material in liquid, solid and/or gaseous form used in engineering applications. At least one feeding unit enables the material to be transmitted at a feed rate predetermined by the user. At least one plasma torch located in connection with the feeding unit enables the form of the material to be converted by the atomization method. A powder in an amount predetermined by the user is formed by conversion of the material by the plasma torch. A plurality of reservoirs allow the powder to be separated and collected in sizes predetermined by the user. At least one transmission line allows the powders to be conveyed to the reservoir. A vacuum unit allows the powders to be conveyed by vacuum on the transmission line where at least one part is pre-positioned by the user into the reservoir for applying the coating process.

A plasma spray gun has: a plasma outlet having an axis; and a plurality of liquid feedstock outlets having a non-uniform distribution about said axis.

The invention relates to a device and a method for the metallic coating of a work piece with a mobile coating lance (20), by means of which a metal plasma jet can be generated to create the coating consisting of metal particles. According to the invention, an extraction hood (30) is provided, which at least encloses an axial section of the coating lance (20) in a ring-shaped manner, and the extraction hood (30) has a ring-shaped holding unit (50), which is configured to take up the metal particles.

A suspension plasma spray feeder apparatus for delivering a suspension from a suspension source to a plasma spray gun. The feeder apparatus comprises a suspension line and a vibrator mounted to vibrate the suspension line.

Methods of depositing hardfacing material portions of earth-boring tools may involve supporting at least a portion of an earth-boring tool in a holder of a workpiece positioner, the holder being movable in at least a third plane. A location of a surface of the at least a portion of the earth-boring tool may be determined utilizing at least one sensor. The workpiece positioner, the sensor, and a torch positioner comprising a hardfacing torch movable in at least a first plane perpendicular to the third plane and a second plane parallel to the third plane may be controlled utilizing a programmable control system to cause the torch positioner to oscillate the hardfacing torch in the second plane while selectively causing the workpiece positioner to move the holder in the third plane and causing the torch to deposit hardfacing material on the surface.

Plasma spray apparatus for coating substrates, including at least a working chamber including a plasma torch and at least a substrate support, in which an inert gas or a mixture of inert gases is contained at a pressure which is close to the normal pressure, and at least a gas circuit, in communication with said working chamber, including recirculating means of the inert gases contained in said working chamber. The recirculating means include a closed loop, including a blower and a first heat exchanger communicating with said working chamber for extracting the inert gases and supplying a first fraction of the cooled inert gases back into a first portion of the working chamber, and at least a path, communicating with said closed loop and including a compressor and a second heat exchanger for supplying a second fraction of the cooled inert gases into a second portion of the working chamber.

An apparatus for treating a substrate includes a support unit that supports the substrate and a nozzle that dispenses liquid plasma to etch a film formed on the substrate supported on the support unit.