Super Abrasive Machining of Integral Rotary Components Using Grinding Flank Tools

Manufacturing techniques that are applied to turbomachinery components represent a challenge in the aeronautic sector. These components require high resistant super-alloys in order to satisfy the extreme working conditions they have to support during their useful life. Besides, in the particular case of Integrally Bladed Rotors (IBR), usually present complex geometries that need to be roughed and finished by milling and grinding processes, respectively. In order to improve their manufacturing processes, Super Abrasive Machining (SAM) is presented as a solution because it combines the advantages of the use of grinding tools with milling feed rates. However, this innovative technique usually needed high tool rotary speed and pure cutting oils cooling. These issues implied that SAM technique was not feasible in conventional machining centers. In this work, these matters were tackled and the possibility of using SAM in these five-axis centers with emulsion coolants was achieved. To verify this approach, Inconel 718 single blades with non-ruled surfaces were manufactured with Flank-SAM technique and conventional milling process, analyzing cutting forces, surface roughness, and dimension accuracy in both cases. The results show that SAM implies a suitable, controllable, and predictable process to improve the manufacture of aeronautical critical components, such as IBR.FEDE

Definition of tailor made cutting tools for machining of complex surfaces based on final surface shape

In this work a design methodology to define the best geometry of cutting tool for complex surfaces is defined, being based on the final part surface geometry. The manufacture of components with tailor made shaped tools, based on algorithm calculation and adapted to the geometry of the final piece surface, reduces manufacturing time and maintains piece quality in comparison with traditional cutting tools. Cutting tools are usually cylindrical (end mills) or ball-end mills. With mathematical algorithms can be defined diamond & CBN electroplated form tools, multi-tooth endmills, abrasive grinding tools and so on. The approach here presented can enable the production of tools for manufacturing process such as Super Abrasive Machining (SAM) and Flank milling strategies. Comparison between standard tools and traditional machining processes versus custom-shaped tools was studied in terms of process time. Final applications are numerous, such as, integral blade rotors, spiral bevel gears, blisks and impellers, complex screws, and others

5-axis double-flank CNC machining of spiral bevel gears via custom-shaped milling tools -- Part I: modeling and simulation

A new category of 5-axis flank computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining, called \emph{double-flank}, is presented. Instead of using a predefined set of milling tools, we use the shape of the milling tool as a free parameter in our optimization-based approach and, for a given input free-form (NURBS) surface, compute a custom-shaped tool that admits highly-accurate machining. Aimed at curved narrow regions where the tool may have double tangential contact with the reference surface, like spiral bevel gears, the initial trajectory of the milling tool is estimated by fitting a ruled surface to the self-bisector of the reference surface. The shape of the tool and its motion then both undergo global optimization that seeks high approximation quality between the input free-form surface and its envelope approximation, fairness of the motion and the tool, and prevents overcutting. That is, our double-flank machining is meant for the semi-finishing stage and therefore the envelope of the motion is, by construction, penetration-free with the references surface. Our algorithm is validated by a commercial path-finding software and the prototype of the tool for a specific gear model is 3D printed.RYC-2017-22649 BERC 2014-201

Constant probe orientation for fast contact-based inspection of 3D free-form surfaces using (3+2)-axis inspection machines

A new probe optimization method for contact based (3+2)-axis inspection machines is proposed. Given an inspection path of a stylus on a free-form surface, an optimal orientation of the stylus is computed such that (i) the inclination angle of the stylus is within a given angular range with respect to the surface normal, (ii) the motion of the stylus is globally collision free, and (iii) the stylus remains constant in the coordinate system of the measuring machine. The last condition guarantees that the inspection motion requires only the involvement of the three translational axes of the measuring machine. The numerical simulations were validated through physical experiments on a testcase of a tooth of a bevel gear due to the surface complexity and probe accessibility. This optimized method was compared to 3-axis and 5-axis inspection strategies, showing that the fixed (3+2)-axis stylus returns more accurate inspection results compared to the traditional 3-axis approach and similar to 5-axis approach.RYC-2017-2264

5-axis double-flank CNC machining of spiral bevel gears via custom-shaped tools – Part II: physical validations and experiments

Recently, a new methodology for 5-axis flank computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining, called double-flank machining, has been introduced (see “5-axis double-flank CNC machining of spiral bevel gears via custom-shaped milling tools–Part I: Modeling and simulation”). Certain geometries, such as curved teeth of spiral bevel gear, admit this approach where the machining tool has tangential contact with the material block on two sides, yielding a more efficient variant of flank machining. To achieve high machining accuracy, the path-planning algorithm, however, does not look only for the path of the tool, but also for the shape of the tool itself. The proposed approach is validated by series of physical experiments using an abrasive custom-shaped tool specifically designed for a particular type of a spiral bevel gear. The potential of this new methodology is shown in the semifinishing stage of gear manufacturing, where it outperforms traditional ball end milling by an order of magnitude in terms of machining time, while keeping, or even improving, the machining error.RYC-2017-22649 KK-2020/0010

Blisk blades manufacturing technologies analysis

The 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.RYC-2017-2264

Short-Cut Method to Assess a Gross Available Energy in a Medium-Load Screw Friction Press

The present study proposed a rapid method, based on a previous universal compression tests, to estimate the required load capacity to cold forge different specimen quantity in a screw press. Accordingly, experimental and theoretical approach are performed to check new adjustable drive motor of the modified forging machine to achieve a gross available energy to deform the specimens preventing damage of the forging machine. During the forging experiments, two screw friction presses (as-received and modified) are used to validate the theoretical approach. The modified press exhibits an increase of 51% of gross energy and 11% of maximum load capacity compare to the as-received press. This method is used to improve the effective of the forging process avoiding excessive loads that could promote machine failure. Therefore, a low-cost and easy to implement methodology is proposed to determine the energy and load capacity of a screw friction press to forge different specimen quantities with symmetry pattern configurations.This work is supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain (reference project: FJCI-2016-29297), Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Industrial (INTI) of Argentina and the Aeronautics Advanced Manufacturing Center (CFAA) of Bilbao

Constant probe orientation for fast contact-based inspection of 3D free-form surfaces using (3+2)-axis inspection machines

A new probe optimization method for contact based (3+2)-axis inspection machines is proposed. Given an inspection path of a stylus on a free-form surface, an optimal orientation of the stylus is computed such that (i) the inclination angle of the stylus is within a given angular range with respect to the surface normal, (ii) the motion of the stylus is globally collision free, and (iii) the stylus remains constant in the coordinate system of the measuring machine. The last condition guarantees that the inspection motion requires only the involvement of the three translational axes of the measuring machine. The numerical simulations were validated through physical experiments on a testcase of a tooth of a bevel gear due to the surface complexity and probe accessibility. This optimized method was compared to 3-axis and 5-axis inspection strategies, showing that the fixed (3+2)-axis stylus returns more accurate inspection results compared to the traditional 3-axis approach and similar to 5-axis approach

Machining-induced characteristics of microstructure-supported LPBF-IN718 curved thin walls

The microstructure-supported design of engineering components is recently gaining attention due to their high strength-to-weight and high stiffness-to-weight properties. The present study investigates the hybrid manufacturing of Inconel 718 curved thin walls with internal microstructural supports fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Printed walls contain a fixed curvature and thickness, whereas the internal microstructures were varied at different inclination angles. In this research, a finish milling operation has been performed at different milling parameters. Machining-induced damages on the internal microstructures have been studied and correlated with geometrical deviation and surface integrity features on the outer thin wall surfaces

FREE-FORM TOOLS DESIGN AND FABRICATION FOR FLANK SUPER ABRASIVE MACHINING (FSAM) NON DEVELOPABLE SURFACES

Manufacturing improvements are becoming a real need in industry. In order to satisfy these industrial requirements, they should be targeted in two different directions: new manufacturing processes and surface optimization through algorithms. On the one hand, Super Abrasive Machining (SAM) is presented as a new manufacturing process combining benefits from milling and grinding technologies. On the other hand, there is a tendency to manufacture non developable surfaces by flank milling and to achieve final dimensional and roughness requirements, by calculating mathematically-optimized tool trajectories. This work presents a design and manufacturing of a free form tool to be used for the manufacturing of a complex surface through Flank SAM (FSAM). Based on the tool requirements, it will cover the following stages: tool geometry design, tool core manufacturing, and electroplating for final abrasive tool generation