Patent ID: 7326873

Claim:
An assembly for applying weld material to tips of turbine buckets to form one or more tenons on said bucket tips, comprising: a fixture having clamps for releasably securing first and second groups of buckets at predetermined discrete positions on said fixture; an induction coil for preheating said groups of buckets; a welding head for applying weld material to the tips of the buckets; said fixture being movable between first and second positions, said fixture in said first position thereof locating said first group of buckets adjacent said weld head enabling weld material to be applied to the tips of the buckets of said first group, and said second group of buckets adjacent the induction coil for simultaneous preheating the bucket tips of said second group; said fixture in said second position locating said second group of buckets adjacent said welding head, enabling weld material to be applied to the tips of the buckets of said second group thereof.