A method and a device are provided for installing a wire guide on a torch head, which is used in a coating system that applies thermal coatings, in a positionally accurate manner while also simplifying and making reproducible the adjustment of the position of the wire guide, thereby reducing the work effort that is needed for this purpose. In particular, by subjecting an image that includes at least portions of the wire guide and a portion of the torch head to image processing, the positions of the respective components are calculated and displayed in real time on a display unit for use by a person installing the wire guide on the torch head.

In one or more embodiments, the invention relates to a plasma transfer wire arc thermal spray system, comprising a section for feeding a wire acting as a first electrode, a source of plasma gas providing plasma gas, a nozzle directing the plasma gas stream from the source of plasma gas to a free end of the wire, and a second electrode located in the plasma gas stream towards the nozzle. In certain instances, the nozzle is made at least partially of electrically insulating material. The thermal spray apparatus with the inventive spray gun may have a simplified and faster starting procedure and the spray nozzle can be more durable.

A method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating to a fastener that includes preheating an area of the fastener to be coated to elevate a temperature of the area and spraying the preheated area of the fastener with a molten or semi-molten metal. In one embodiment, a corrosion-resistant coating applicator includes a support structure, a rotatable slotted fastener conveyer supported by the support structure, a feeder configured to feed fasteners to the rotatable slotted fastener conveyer, a fastener aligner configured to make head portions of the fasteners aligned with each other, a heater configured to heat head portions of the fasteners as the fasteners are being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer, and a sprayer configured to apply a corrosion-resistant coating to the heated head portions of the fasteners being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer. The present disclosure also provides corrosion-resistant coated fasteners made using the coating methods and/or coating apparatus.

The present disclosure provides a heating system for performing thermal spray coating. The heating system includes (a) a thermal spray element configured to be coupled to a robotic arm, (b) a heating unit configured to be coupled to the robotic arm, (c) at least one processor, and (d) data storage comprising program instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the heating system to perform functions including (i) receiving a first indication of a spray coating material positioned in the thermal spray element, (ii) receiving a second indication of a material of a substrate onto which the spray coating material is to be sprayed, (iii) heating the substrate for a time period until the substrate reaches a desired temperature that is determined based on both the spray coating material and the material of the substrate, and (iv) spraying the spray coating material onto the substrate.

A method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating to a fastener that includes preheating an area of the fastener to be coated to elevate a temperature of the area and spraying the preheated area of the fastener with a molten or semi-molten metal. In one embodiment, a corrosion-resistant coating applicator includes a support structure, a rotatable slotted fastener conveyer supported by the support structure, a feeder configured to feed fasteners to the rotatable slotted fastener conveyer, a fastener aligner configured to make head portions of the fasteners aligned with each other, a heater configured to heat head portions of the fasteners as the fasteners are being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer, and a sprayer configured to apply a corrosion-resistant coating to the heated head portions of the fasteners being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer. The present disclosure also provides corrosion-resistant coated fasteners made using the coating methods and/or coating apparatus.

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.

An arc wire spraying method includes conveying at least two wires out of respective lance nozzles of a wire conveying device by means of the wire conveying device, applying current to the two wires to form an arc for melting the ends of the two wires, and applying airflow to the arc in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the wire conveying device by means of an airflow applying device so as to spray the melted wire material toward a surface to be sprayed. The airflow applying device rotationally applies the airflow around the longitudinal direction of the wire conveying device. Parameters for spraying are variably adjusted along the rotating direction of the airflow applying device. The airflow is rotationally applied at a varying rotating speed.

A thermal metal spraying apparatus for applying a metal coating to a target surface. The apparatus provides a cathode, a wire feed stock having a free end, and a wire guide that directs the free end of the wire feedstock to a position for establishing and maintaining a plasma transferred wire arc between the cathode and the free end of the wire feedstock. The wire guide maintains at least three points of contact with the wire feedstock as the wire feedstock is fed through the wire guide.

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.