Deposition of braze preform

Abstract

A method of manufacturing includes depositing a braze filler adjacent to a void between a first component and a second component thus holding the components in position before brazing. The first and second components are heated to melt and flow the braze filler into the void. A braze joint is formed between the first and second components by cooling the braze filler. Depositing the braze filler can include laser cladding the braze filler to the first and/or second components adjacent the void. The method also optionally includes welding the first and second components in position with the braze filler adjacent to the void. The braze filler may be deposited as a powder, cold spray, melted brazed filament, spherical ball or any other suitable form.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing, comprising:
 depositing a braze filler adjacent to a void between a first component and a second component thus holding the components in position before brazing;   heating the first and second components to melt the braze filler and draw the braze filler into the void; and   forming a braze joint between the first and second components by cooling the braze filler.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein depositing includes laser cladding the braze filler to the first and second components adjacent the void. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising welding the first and second components in position to form the void with the braze filler adjacent to the void. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising depositing the braze filler as a powder. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising depositing the braze filler as a cold spray. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising depositing the braze filler as a melted brazed filament. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the depositing includes laser cladding braze filler to the first component and clamping the first component to the second component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising locating and/or tack welding the braze filler as a braze ball to the first and second components. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the braze ball is a predetermined size. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein depositing includes locating and/or tack welding the braze ball to the first component and clamping the first component to the second component. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the braze material includes at least one material chosen from the group consisting of bronze-based matrix materials containing nickel, steel-based matrix materials containing nickel, and steel alloys containing chromium, nickel, molybdenum, silicon, vanadium, carbon, gold, silver, copper, platinum and/or palladium.