Instead, additive materials are heated but only to less than 80% of their melting point, rendering them fungible. “It doesn’t melt the material like flame-spray or HVOF, any of the other common welding or coating processes.” “Cold is a bit of a misnomer,” Hrabe acknowledges. Soft metals are typically used with the CS process though recent advances are allowing for the use of harder materials like titanium and Inconel.
In that way, CS is both an additive and subtractive process.įor the B-1 slip joint, the Ellsworth team used 6061-grade aluminum alloy particles to make the repair. Once applied, the new material is machined to match the original shape or tolerances of the part being repaired. The particles coalesce into a solid state, creating a high strength, structurally sound bond.
Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Quentin K. David Darling, the 28th MXG additive manufacturing site manager, perform a cold spray repair to a B-1B slip joint with VRC equipment. Chynna Patterson, a 28th Maintenance Group additive manufacturing spray technician, and.
