Patent ID: 8820072

Claim:
A method for deforming a diffuser plate for a centrifugal compressor of a turbocharger, the method comprising: providing the diffuser plate wherein the diffuser plate comprises an inner edge disposed at an inner diameter about a central axis, a lower annular surface that extends radially outwardly to a transition section that comprises a fulcrum contact surface, an upper annular surface and an outer edge disposed at an outer diameter, the outer edge displaced an undeformed axial distance from the inner edge; positioning the diffuser plate between a first housing component and a second housing component such that the lower annular surface of the diffuser plate contacts a clamping surface of the first housing component, the fulcrum contact surface of the diffuser plate contacts a fulcrum of the first housing component, and the upper annular surface of the diffuser plate contacts a clamping surface of the second housing component; forcing the first housing component to the second housing component against a biasing force applied by the diffuser plate; and responsive to the forcing, deforming the diffuser plate to shape a surface of a diffuser of the centrifugal compressor and to displace the outer edge of the diffuser plate a deformed axial distance from the inner edge of the diffuser plate wherein the deformed axial distance is less than the undeformed axial distance.