Thin-Wall Machining of Light Alloys: A Review of Models and Industrial Approaches

Thin-wall parts are common in the aeronautical sector. However, their machining presents serious challenges such as vibrations and part deflections. To deal with these challenges, di erent approaches have been followed in recent years. This work presents the state of the art of thin-wall light-alloy machining, analyzing the problems related to each type of thin-wall parts, exposing the causes of both instability and deformation through analytical models, summarizing the computational techniques used, and presenting the solutions proposed by di erent authors from an industrial point of view. Finally, some further research lines are proposed

Optimization of 5-Axis milling processes based on the process models with application to airfoil machining

5-axis milling is widely used in machining of complex surfaces such as airfoils. Improper selection of machining parameters may cause low productivity and undesired results during machining. There are several constraints such as available power and torque, chatter stability, tool breakage etc. In order to respect such constraints proper machining parameters should be determined. In this paper, methodologies for improving 5-axis milling processes are presented. Selection of machining parameters is performed using process simulations. The developed methodologies are presented on an example airfoil

Eco-efficient process based on conventional machining as an alternative technology to chemical milling of aeronautical metal skin panels

El fresado químico es un proceso diseñado para la reducción de peso de pieles metálicas que, a pesar de los problemas medioambientales asociados, se utiliza en la industria aeronáutica desde los años 50. Entre sus ventajas figuran el cumplimiento de las estrictas tolerancias de diseño de piezas aeroespaciales y que pese a ser un proceso de mecanizado, no induce tensiones residuales. Sin embargo, el fresado químico es una tecnología contaminante y costosa que tiende a ser sustituida. Gracias a los avances realizados en el mecanizado, la tecnología de fresado convencional permite alcanzar las tolerancias requeridas siempre y cuando se consigan evitar las vibraciones y la flexión de la pieza, ambas relacionadas con los parámetros del proceso y con los sistemas de utillaje empleados. Esta tesis analiza las causas de la inestabilidad del corte y la deformación de las piezas a través de una revisión bibliográfica que cubre los modelos analíticos, las técnicas computacionales y las soluciones industriales en estudio actualmente. En ella, se aprecia cómo los modelos analíticos y las soluciones computacionales y de simulación se centran principalmente en la predicción off-line de vibraciones y de posibles flexiones de la pieza. Sin embargo, un enfoque más industrial ha llevado al diseño de sistemas de fijación, utillajes, amortiguadores basados en actuadores, sistemas de rigidez y controles adaptativos apoyados en simulaciones o en la selección estadística de parámetros. Además se han desarrollado distintas soluciones CAM basadas en la aplicación de gemelos virtuales. En la revisión bibliográfica se han encontrado pocos documentos relativos a pieles y suelos delgados por lo que se ha estudiado experimentalmente el efecto de los parámetros de corte en su mecanizado. Este conjunto de experimentos ha demostrado que, pese a usar un sistema que aseguraba la rigidez de la pieza, las pieles se comportaban de forma diferente a un sólido rígido en términos de fuerzas de mecanizado cuando se utilizaban velocidades de corte cercanas a la alta velocidad. También se ha verificado que todas las muestras mecanizadas entraban dentro de tolerancia en cuanto a la rugosidad de la pieza. Paralelamente, se ha comprobado que la correcta selección de parámetros de mecanizado puede reducir las fuerzas de corte y las tolerancias del proceso hasta un 20% y un 40%, respectivamente. Estos datos pueden tener aplicación industrial en la simplificación de los sistemas de amarre o en el incremento de la eficiencia del proceso. Este proceso también puede mejorarse incrementando la vida de la herramienta al utilizar fluidos de corte. Una correcta lubricación puede reducir la temperatura del proceso y las tensiones residuales inducidas a la pieza. Con este objetivo, se han desarrollado diferentes lubricantes, basados en el uso de líquidos iónicos (IL) y se han comparado con el comportamiento tribológico del par de contacto en seco y con una taladrina comercial. Los resultados obtenidos utilizando 1 wt% de los líquidos iónicos en un tribómetro tipo pin-on-disk demuestran que el IL no halogenado reduce significativamente el desgaste y la fricción entre el aluminio, material a mecanizar, y el carburo de tungsteno, material de la herramienta, eliminando casi toda la adhesión del aluminio sobre el pin, lo que puede incrementar considerablemente la vida de la herramienta.Chemical milling is a process designed to reduce the weight of metals skin panels. This process has been used since 1950s in the aerospace industry despite its environmental concern. Among its advantages, chemical milling does not induce residual stress and parts meet the required tolerances. However, this process is a pollutant and costly technology. Thanks to the last advances in conventional milling, machining processes can achieve similar quality results meanwhile vibration and part deflection are avoided. Both problems are usually related to the cutting parameters and the workholding. This thesis analyses the causes of the cutting instability and part deformation through a literature review that covers analytical models, computational techniques and industrial solutions. Analytics and computational solutions are mainly focused on chatter and deflection prediction and industrial approaches are focused on the design of workholdings, fixtures, damping actuators, stiffening devices, adaptive control systems based on simulations and the statistical parameters selection, and CAM solutions combined with the use of virtual twins applications. In this literature review, few research works about thin-plates and thin-floors is found so the effect of the cutting parameters is also studied experimentally. These experiments confirm that even using rigid workholdings, the behavior of the part is different to a rigid body at high speed machining. On the one hand, roughness values meet the required tolerances under every set of the tested parameters. On the other hand, a proper parameter selection reduces the cutting forces and process tolerances by up to 20% and 40%, respectively. This fact can be industrially used to simplify workholding and increase the machine efficiency. Another way to improve the process efficiency is to increase tool life by using cutting fluids. Their use can also decrease the temperature of the process and the induced stresses. For this purpose, different water-based lubricants containing three types of Ionic Liquids (IL) are compared to dry and commercial cutting fluid conditions by studying their tribological behavior. Pin on disk tests prove that just 1wt% of one of the halogen-free ILs significantly reduces wear and friction between both materials, aluminum and tungsten carbide. In fact, no wear scar is noticed on the ball when one of the ILs is used, which, therefore, could considerably increase tool life

Integrated System for Machining Process Visualization and Analysis in Blade Applications

The manufacturing industry is heading towards a more digitized environment. Sandvik Coromant is therefore developing intelligent tools, as well as software tools for machining applications. The aim for this thesis is to develop the understanding of a specific machining process. This is done through a background study of previously known methods, followed by development of a demonstrator to integrate machining data, and finally a case study to visualize a process. Continuous development of methods and approaches are required to provide efficient manufacturing processes. Simulations of a machining process is a helpful tool to gain knowledge about relationships between process data and the machining results. Verifying the simulation results is a challenge, especially since every applications has its own requirements. Therefore, a case study is performed during this thesis work for the selected application. A demonstrator for an integrated system has been developed using Integrated Feature based Metrology (IFM), which is an internally developed concept for connecting data from different machining stages. Pre-process data (digital models and process plans) is connected to in-process data (feed, speed, cutting forces etc.) as well as post-process data (geometric evaluations of the finished component). Deviations and correlations that can cause machining problems can be detected and analyzed through alignment of these types of data. The developed demonstrator shows that it is possible to connect data from the three machining stages. A case study is included, where three blade machining processes are performed. Blade design, CAM software, machine and control system are unchanged, but the cutting data is altered for the different blades. Axis positions and feed rates are acquired from the machine control system, along with cutting forces, torques and vibrations from external sensors, to illustrate how the behavior changes for different cutting data. Most notably, the feed rate is varying more as its nominal value increases. Future work includes applying the integrated system for machining processes with more than three axes. More case studies should be performed to further verify the functionality of the demonstrator

Part Repair using a Hybrid Manufacturing System

Nowadays, part repair technology is gaining more interest from military and industries due to the benefit of cost reducing as well as time and energy saving. Traditionally, part repair is done in the repair department using welding process. The limitations of the traditional welding process are becoming more and more noticeable when the accuracy and reliability are required. Part repair process has been developed utilizing a hybrid manufacturing system, in which the laser aided deposition and CNC cutting processes are integrated. Part repair software is developed in order to facilitate the users. The system and the software elevate the repair process to the next level, in which the accuracy, reliability, and efficiency can be achieved. The concept of repair process is presented in this paper. Verification and experimental results are also discussed.Mechanical Engineerin

Compensation of part distortion in process design for re-contouring processes

The repair of compressor blades requires a precise coordination of the material deposit and the subsequent re-contouring process. Since re-contouring is the last step in the process chain, it is a crucial stage for the final part quality and shape. Therefore, machining-induced part distortions must be considered in process design. This paper introduces a method for the simulation-based compensation of part distortions. The method combines process planning and evaluation by means of a geometric simulation. In order to validate the approach, milling experiments are carried out. A subsequent measurement of the part geometry shows that the part distortion can be reduced by up to 21% using the presented approach. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Repair of metallic components using hybrid manufacturing

Many high-performance metal parts users extend the service of these damaged parts by employing repair technology. Hybrid manufacturing, which includes additive manufacturing (AM) and subtractive manufacturing, provides greater build capability, better accuracy, and surface finish for component repair. However, most repair processes still rely on manual operations, which are not satisfactory in terms of time, cost, reliability, and accuracy. This dissertation aims to improve the application of hybrid manufacturing for repairing metallic components by addressing the following three research topics. The first research topic is to investigate and develop an efficient best-fit and shape adaption algorithm for automating 3D models\u27 the alignment and defect reconstruction. A multi-feature fitting algorithm and cross-section comparison method are developed. The second research topic is to develop a smooth toolpath generation method for laser metal deposition to improve the deposition quality for metallic component fabrication and repair. Smooth connections or transitions in toolpath planning are achieved to provide a constant feedrate and controllable deposition idle time for each single deposition pass. The third research topic is to develop an automated repair process could efficiently obtain the spatial information of a worn component for defect detection, alignment, and 3D scanning with the integration of stereo vision and laser displacement sensor. This dissertation investigated and developed key technologies to improve the efficiency, repair quality, precision, and automation for the repair of metallic components using hybrid manufacturing. Moreover, the research results of this dissertation can benefit a wide range of industries, such as additive manufacturing, manufacturing and measurement automation, and part inspection --Abstract, page iv

Blisk blades manufacturing technologies analysis

Ponencia presentada a 8th Manufacturing Engineering Society International Conference, MESIC 2019, 19-21 June 2019, Madrid, SpainThe paper presents blisk blades manufactured by different manufacturing processes. In this sense, different milling trajectories are presented, and, super abrasive machining strategies and EDM technologies are also tested. Machining times, costs and surface finish are analysed in order to determine optimal machining process for blisk manufactured in low machinability materials.The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support received from HAZITEK program, from the Department of Economic Development and Infrastructures of the Basque Government and from FEDER founds, related to the projects with acronym HARDCRAFT and TURALOY. Besides, thanks are also addressed to the Vice chancellor of innovation, social compromise and cultural action from UPV/EHU (Bizialab program from Basque Government) and to Spanish Project MINECO RTC-2017-6039-5

Automated design and STEP-NC machining of impellers

This paper presents the four stage approach followed for automated design and STEP-NC based machining of impellers. In the first stage, the design calculations are performed to construct the 'Meridional representation' of the radial impeller. Then 3D curves are projected from the 'Meridional representation' and 3D model is generated using UG-NX software. In the second stage, the process planning activities including tooling & setup plan are completed. Here, ball end mill cutters with suitable diameter and length are selected and appropriate process parameters as suited to 5 axis milling are considered. In the third stage, the tool path data based on contour area milling is generated and verified in the UG NX software. Finally, in the fourth stage, the model with the complete data is imported to STEP-NC software and the AP-238 format is generated. In this article the design procedure adopted for construction of 'Meridional Section' of a radial turbine is discussed with the general methdology to automate the process planning and tool path generation. A test case of radial impeller is presented with the results obtained by adopting STEP-NC format

A digital twin study for immediate design / redesign of impellers and blades: part 1: CAD modelling and tool path simulation.

This paper presents a digital twining study conducted for an immediate design / redesign and manufacturing of on impellers and blades. It is by accomplished by developing (i) CAD automation methods, based on the standard modelling procedures and (ii) Manufacturing automation based on the 3/3 + 1/3 + 2/5 axis milling process. Initially, the CAD model of impeller / blade is created by utilizing the dimensional parameters obtained through standard design calculations / data. It is then parametrized and converted to an automated model through simple dimensional rules and geometric algorithms developed for the purpose. After this stage, the CAD model is analyzed for manufacturing automation where the process planning data comprising cutting tools, process parameters and setups are selected. Here, the tool paths are generated for 3/3 + 1/3 + 2/5 axis milling considering a CNC Vertical Machining Center (VMC) to digitally twin milling process. Both the CAD modelling and manufacturing process plans including tool path generation are captured through journaling and customized / improved using the Application Programmable Interface's (API's) to suit the present scope. In this paper, the first part on CAD modelling and manufacturing simulation methodologies are discussed through validating the digital twining concept in a virtual environment. The work is developed with the focus to help industries moving towards Industry 4.0 and requiring a constant design improvement in their products. It is by emphasizing the importance of digital twinning concept where a concurrent verification of design and manufacturing process can be achieved