Method for making a component including fluid flow channels

1. A method for making a component including fluid flow channels ( 18 ) formed by making a plurality of hollow grooves ( 12 ) in at least one face ( 21 ) of a base plate ( 10 ) so that the grooves have open top sides and with the base plate having opposite ends wherein the method is characterized by:

sealably blocking the open top side of each of the grooves ( 12 ) by welding a plurality of strips ( 16 ) corresponding in number to the number of grooves, for forming said fluid flow channels ( 18 ) with open ends at least at one of the opposite ends of the base plate;

placing a lid ( 22 ) onto the face ( 21 ) of the base plate ( 10 ) such that the lid ( 22 ) covers each and every strip ( 16 ); and

diffusion welding said lid ( 22 ) onto the face ( 21 ) of the base plate ( 10 ) using hot isostatic compression so that a pressurized gas can flow from said open ends at least at one of the opposite ends of the base plate through said fluid flow channels ( 18 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the strips ( 16 ) have opposite edges and that each opposite edge of each strip is welded to the top of a corresponding groove to sealably block the groove.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the strips ( 16 ) are welded to the one face ( 21 ) of the base plate ( 10 ) by laser welding.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein fittings ( 14 ) are made in the grooves ( 12 ) before their blocking by means of the strips ( 16 ).

5. The method according to claim 4 , characterized in that the span of the fittings ( 14 ) is between 0.1 mm and 0.6 mm.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the depth of the fittings ( 14 ) is between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the play between the fitting ( 14 ) and the strip ( 16 ) inserted into this fitting ( 14 ) is less than 0.1 mm.

8. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that, after the step for diffusion-welding the lid ( 22 ) with hot isostatic compression, the base plate ( 10 ) and/or the lid ( 22 ) are machined in order to reduce the thickness of the component.

9. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that grooves ( 12 ) are made in each of two faces of a base plate ( 72 ).

10. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.

11. The method according to claim 2 , wherein fittings ( 14 ) are made in the grooves ( 12 ) before their blocking by means of the strips ( 16 ).

12. The method according to claim 3 , wherein fittings ( 14 ) are made in the grooves ( 12 ) before their blocking by means of the strips ( 16 ).

13. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the depth of the fittings ( 14 ) is between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

14. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the play between the fitting ( 14 ) and the strip ( 16 ) inserted into this fitting ( 14 ) is less than 0.1 mm.

15. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the play between the fitting ( 14 ) and the strip ( 16 ) inserted into this fitting ( 14 ) is less than 0.1 mm.

16. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the play between the fitting ( 14 ) and the strip ( 16 ) inserted into this fitting ( 14 ) is less than 0.1 mm.

17. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that, after the step for diffusion-welding the lid ( 22 ) with hot isostatic compression, the base plate ( 10 ) and/or the lid ( 22 ) are machined in order to reduce the thickness of the component.

18. The method according to claim 3 , characterized in that, after the step for diffusion-welding the lid ( 22 ) with hot isostatic compression, the base plate ( 10 ) and/or the lid ( 22 ) are machined in order to reduce the thickness of the component.

19. The method according to claim 4 , characterized in that, after the step for diffusion-welding the lid ( 22 ) with hot isostatic compression, the base plate ( 10 ) and/or the lid ( 22 ) are machined in order to reduce the thickness of the component.

20. The method according to claim 5 , characterized in that, after the step for diffusion-welding the lid ( 22 ) with hot isostatic compression, the base plate ( 10 ) and/or the lid ( 22 ) are machined in order to reduce the thickness of the component.

21. The method according to claim 6 , characterized in that, after the step for diffusion-welding the lid ( 22 ) with hot isostatic compression, the base plate ( 10 ) and/or the lid ( 22 ) are machined in order to reduce the thickness of the component.

22. The method according to claim 7 , characterized in that, after the step for diffusion-welding the lid ( 22 ) with hot isostatic compression, the base plate ( 10 ) and/or the lid ( 22 ) are machined in order to reduce the thickness of the component.

23. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that grooves ( 12 ) are made in each of the two faces of a base plate ( 72 ).

24. The method according to claim 3 , characterized in that grooves ( 12 ) are made in each of the two faces of a base plate ( 72 ).

25. The method according to claim 4 , characterized in that grooves ( 12 ) are made in each of the two faces of a base plate ( 72 ).

26. The method according to claim 5 , characterized in that grooves ( 12 ) are made in each of the two faces of a base plate ( 72 ).

27. The method according to claim 6 , characterized in that grooves ( 12 ) are made in each of the two faces of a base plate ( 72 ).

28. The method according to claim 7 , characterized in that grooves ( 12 ) are made in each of the two faces of a base plate ( 72 ).

29. The method according to claim 8 , characterized in that grooves ( 12 ) are made in each of the two faces of a base plate ( 72 ).

30. The method according to claim 2 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.

31. The method according to claim 3 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.

32. The method according to claim 4 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.

33. The method according to claim 5 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.

34. The method according to claim 6 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.

35. The method according to claim 7 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.

36. The method according to claim 8 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.

37. The method according to claim 9 , characterized in that grooves ( 16 ) are made in the lid ( 82 ) so that it itself forms a base plate.