| 摘要 |
A thermal spray assembly 10 for transforming precursor material 60 into a layer of deposited material joined to a substrate body comprises a plasma torch 20 which produces a plasma jet from a plasma nozzle 28, and a feeder mechanism 30 which guides the precursor material into the plasma jet in use and provides a feeder orifice 70 when in an open condition. The feeder mechanism 30 comprises a guide chamber 34 and a moveable guide mechanism 32, and the guide chamber is capable of guiding the precursor material 60 to the feeder orifice 70, through which the precursor material can move from the guide chamber and enter the plasma jet at a variable mean distance from the plasma nozzle in response to movement of the guide mechanism. The guide mechanism 32 is preferably coterminous with the feeder orifice 70, and may be moved axially relative to the plasma torch 20. A method of using the assembly is also described, in which the guide mechanism 32 is moved such that the precursor material 60 enters the plasma jet sufficiently far away from the plasma nozzle 28 that it does not adhere to the thermal spray device on melting in the plasma jet. |
