METHOD AND APPARATUS TO RELIEVE RESIDUAL STRESS OR DISTORTION IN A HEAT PROCESSED ARTICLE BY APPLYING FIRST HEAT AND THEN PRESSURE

摘要

The application discloses a method and apparatus to apply pressure to a heated or weld region (104) of a workpiece (106) to relieve residual stress and distortion. In illustrated embodiments, heat is supplied via a probe that traverses a workpiece (106) to heat a region (104) of the workpiece (106). Pressure is applied to the heated region (104) following the application of heat. In illustrated embodiments, pressure is supplied via a roller assembly, which is configured to traverse the workpiece (106) to apply pressure to the heated or weld regions (104).