Aero engine restoration: Four-axis machining centre reduces blade repair machining times by 30% and improves accuracy

摘要

Central to the success of a newly developed machining cell has been the installation of two Fanuc Alpha T14iB four-axis Robodrills, which have cut machining cycles on aerofoil blade location features by more than 30%; they have also considerably improved machining accuracy. Indeed, such was the success of these machines - supplied by 600 Centre, Shepshed (Tel: 01509 600600) - that Airfoil Technologies International-UK (ATI) soon purchased a third Robodrill, which has transformed blade profile operations through the use of advanced scanning techniques. This machine was followed by a fourth - a wide-bed four-axis Alpha T14iC, which has reduced machining times on 610mm-long mid-span blades by at least 50%.