Patent ID: 7540083

Claim:
A method for modifying an internal cooling circuit of an airfoil, the internal cooling circuit including a flow path configured to direct air through the airfoil in a direction and the airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a first outer wall and a second outer wall extending therebetween, each outer wall having an inner and an outer surface, the inner surfaces (of each) of the first and the second outer walls defining a cavity and having features forming at least a portion of the internal cooling circuit, and the outer surfaces (of each) of the first and the second outer walls forming an outer surface of the airfoil, the method comprising the steps of: forming a pilot hole through the airfoil first and second outer walls at a predetermined location; forming an insert hole based on the predetermined location, the insert hole enveloping the pilot hole and configured to receive at least a portion of an insert configured to modify the internal cooling circuit flow path; placing the insert into the insert hole; and bonding the insert to the airfoil first and second outer walls.