Patent ID: 7147899
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: B23P,C23C,C25D,F01D,F05D

Abstract:
1. A method of masking cooling holes of a gas turbine component, the gas turbine component including an external surface, a cavity, and a plurality of cooling holes, the method comprising: (a) applying a photopolymerizing mask material to the cooling holes so that only the cooling holes are at least partially filled with the mask material in a portion closest to the external surface and up to the level of the external surface, the mask material mixed with a filler material in at least a portion located at the external surface of the component; (b) at least partially thickening at least a portion of the mask material within the cooling holes using a source of electromagnetic radiation impinging directly on the mask material in the cooling hole from the outside of the component; (c) coating the external surface of the component and the masked cooling holes; and (d) removing the remaining thickened mask material from the cooling holes.