A method and apparatus for manufacturing or repairing a part. The method includes building a fixture for retaining the part using an additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein material is consolidated using an energy beam, the fixture built on a build plate retained in a set position within the additive manufacturing apparatus, mounting the part to the fixture and causing the additive manufacturing apparatus to consolidate material onto the part when the build plate, with the fixture and part attached thereto, is retained substantially in the set position.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing or repairing a part. The method includes building a fixture for retaining the part using an additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein material is consolidated using an energy beam, the fixture built on a build plate retained in a set position within the additive manufacturing apparatus, mounting the part to the fixture and causing the additive manufacturing apparatus to consolidate material onto the part when the build plate, with the fixture and part attached thereto, is retained substantially in the set position.

Methods of repairing a manufacturing defect in a molded polymeric composite structure are provided. A polymeric patch may optionally be disposed over a defect on a first contoured surface of the molded polymeric composite structure having the defect. A heating element that defines a second contoured surface complementary with at least a portion of the first contoured surface is applied over the polymeric patch. The heating element includes an electrically conductive layer that includes a fabric and a thermoset polymer. The polymeric patch is heated with the heating element, where the heating element has a substantially uniform temperature across the second contoured surface so that the polymeric patch fills the defect. Methods of making the customized heating elements and the customized heating elements are also provided.

Methods of repairing a manufacturing defect in a molded polymeric composite structure are provided. A polymeric patch may optionally be disposed over a defect on a first contoured surface of the molded polymeric composite structure having the defect. A heating element that defines a second contoured surface complementary with at least a portion of the first contoured surface is applied over the polymeric patch. The heating element includes an electrically conductive layer that includes a fabric and a thermoset polymer. The polymeric patch is heated with the heating element, where the heating element has a substantially uniform temperature across the second contoured surface so that the polymeric patch fills the defect. Methods of making the customized heating elements and the customized heating elements are also provided.

The present application relates to an object crack repairing tool, which comprises an exhaust film adhered on the surface of an object, a push-pull suction cup capable of being attached on the exhaust film and a crack controller used for controlling the state of a crack, wherein the exhaust film is located at the crack and can seal filling liquid in the crack, the crack controller comprises a detector used for detecting the pressure and a tool head capable of propping against or being connected with the surface of the object, and a detection end of the detector is detachably connected with the tool head. Due to such arrangement of the object crack repairing tool, the degree of force and measure control can be displayed through visual data, and the state of the object crack can be accurately controlled, thereby largely reducing the working load, greatly improving the working efficiency.

A method is described for repairing the surface of rotor blades or aircraft wings, comprising (a) a composite substrate; and (b) a protection layer having at least one area of at least partial damage, the method comprising (i) optionally, removing at least part of the damaged part of the protection tape; (ii) optionally, reconstructing the surface of damaged composite substrate; (iii) optionally, applying primer solution to the surface of the composite substrate; (iv) optionally, applying a polymer solution, preferably in at least one organic solvent; (v) applying a repair patch of a polymer onto at least a part of the composite surface; (vi) applying heat so that the repair patch of a polymer tape melts and covers the damaged area, thereby forming a protection layer or applying a repair solution, preferably in at least one organic solvent, so that the repair patch of a polymer tape at least partially dissolves and covers the damaged area.

A method is described for repairing the surface of rotor blades or aircraft wings, comprising (a) a composite substrate; and (b) a protection layer having at least one area of at least partial damage, the method comprising (i) optionally, removing at least part of the damaged part of the protection tape; (ii) optionally, reconstructing the surface of damaged composite substrate; (iii) optionally, applying primer solution to the surface of the composite substrate; (iv) optionally, applying a polymer solution, preferably in at least one organic solvent; (v) applying a repair patch of a polymer onto at least a part of the composite surface; (vi) applying heat so that the repair patch of a polymer tape melts and covers the damaged area, thereby forming a protection layer or applying a repair solution, preferably in at least one organic solvent, so that the repair patch of a polymer tape at least partially dissolves and covers the damaged area.

A method of forming a build in a powder bed includes emitting a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of a diode laser fiber array onto the powder bed, the selected fibers of the array corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build; and simultaneously melting powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build. An apparatus for forming a build in a powder bed includes a diode laser fiber array including a plurality of diode lasers and a plurality of optical fibers corresponding to the plurality of diode lasers, each optical fiber configured to receive a laser beam from a respective diode laser and configured to emitting the laser beam; a support configured to support a powder bed or a component configured to support the powder bed at a distance from ends of the optical fibers; and a controller configured to control the diode laser fiber array to emit a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of the diode laser fiber array onto the powder bed, the selected fibers of the array corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build and simultaneously melt the powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build.

A method of forming a build in a powder bed includes emitting a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of a diode laser fiber array onto the powder bed, the selected fibers of the array corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build; and simultaneously melting powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build. An apparatus for forming a build in a powder bed includes a diode laser fiber array including a plurality of diode lasers and a plurality of optical fibers corresponding to the plurality of diode lasers, each optical fiber configured to receive a laser beam from a respective diode laser and configured to emitting the laser beam; a support configured to support a powder bed or a component configured to support the powder bed at a distance from ends of the optical fibers; and a controller configured to control the diode laser fiber array to emit a plurality of laser beams from selected fibers of the diode laser fiber array onto the powder bed, the selected fibers of the array corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build and simultaneously melt the powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build.

A method for repairing a structure comprising at least one zone to be heated and which comprises the steps of inflating a frame to form a framework, attaching panels removably to the frame to form an enclosure referred to as a heating enclosure, positioning the enclosure over the zone, heating the interior space of the enclosure using a heating device.