Electron beam brazing to repair component
A method of repairing a component includes the steps of identifying a component to be repaired, and an area on the component in need of repair. Next, one places the component into a chamber, and deposits braze material at the area. Next, one applies an electron beam focused on a portion of the area to sinter the braze material that has been deposited at the area. Finally, one places the component into a furnace to melt and diffuse the braze powder into the component.
1 . A method of repairing a component comprising the steps of:
1) Identifying a component to be repaired, and an area on the component in need of repair;
2) Placing the component into a chamber, and depositing braze material at the area;
3) Applying an electron beam focused on a portion of the area to sinter the braze material that has been deposited at the area;
4) Then placing the component into a furnace to melt and diffuse the braze powder into the component; and
wherein the component has a plurality of airfoils, and the area is at a location where there is no line of sight access to the area.
2 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the furnace is a vacuum furnace.
3 . The method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the chamber is a vacuum chamber.
4 . The method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the component is placed within a bed of braze material and subject to a vibration bed to deposit the braze material at the area.
5 . A method of repairing a component comprising the steps of:
1) Identifying a component to be repaired, and an area on the component in need of repair;
2) Placing the component into a chamber, and depositing braze material at the area;
3) Applying an electron beam focused on a portion of the area to sinter the braze material that has been deposited at the area;
4) Then placing the component into a furnace to melt and diffuse the braze powder into the component; and
wherein two distinct braze materials are deposited in distinct substeps of step 2) and one of two includes a higher percentage of a metal alloy based upon a metal alloy of the component, and a lower percentage of a braze material powder, and an other of the two distinct braze materials includes a lower percentage of the metal alloy powder based upon a metal alloy forming the component and a higher percentage of the braze material powder.
6 . The method as set forth in claim 4 , wherein two distinct braze materials are deposited in distinct substeps of step 2.
7 . The method as set forth in claim 6 , wherein one of the two distinct braze materials includes a higher percentage of a metal alloy based upon a metal alloy of the component, and a lower percentage of a braze material powder, and the other of the two distinct braze materials includes a lower percentage of the metal alloy powder based upon a metal alloy forming the component and a higher percentage of the braze material powder.
8 . The method as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the braze material is deposited from a deposit tool into the bed.
9 . The method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the component has a plurality of airfoils, and the area is at a location where there is no line of sight access to the area.
10 . The method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein two distinct braze materials are deposited in distinct substeps of step 2) and one of two includes a higher portion of a metal alloy based upon a metal alloy of the component, and a lower proportion of a braze material powder, and an other of the two distinct braze materials includes a lower proportion of the metal alloy powder based upon a metal alloy forming the component and a higher percentage of the braze material powder.
11 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the chamber is a vacuum chamber.
12 . The method as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the component is placed within a bed of braze material and subject to a vibration bed to deposit the braze material at the area.
13 . The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the component has a plurality of airfoils, and the area is at a location where there is no line of sight access to the area.
14 . The method as set forth in claim 13 , wherein two distinct braze materials are deposited in distinct substeps of step 2) and one of two includes a higher percentage of a metal alloy based upon a metal alloy of the component, and a lower percentage of a braze material powder, and an other of the two distinct braze materials includes a lower percentage of the metal alloy powder based upon a metal alloy forming the component and a higher percentage of the braze material powder.
15 . The method as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the braze material is deposited from a deposit tool into the bed.
16 . The method as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the component has a plurality of airfoils, and the area is at a location where there is no line of sight access to the area.
17 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the component is placed within a bed of braze material and subject to a vibration bed to deposit the braze material at the area.
18 . The method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the braze material is deposited from a deposit tool onto the area to be repaired.
19 . The method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the component has a plurality of airfoils, and the area is at a location where there is no line of sight access to the area.