Machining cell and method for deburring the root of a turbine blade

An automated method for processing a turbine blade, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of parts each including a turbine blade and a root portion projecting outwardly therefrom;
• transporting a part to a part-receiving station;
• inspecting the part, without human intervention, at the part-receiving station to determine whether the part is properly oriented for processing;
• if the part is properly oriented, then transporting the part to a machining station located within an enclosed area, without human intervention, and machining the root portion of the part to remove excess material therefrom so as to create a chamfer along edges of the root portion;
• and
• discharging the part from the enclosed area.

An automated process for deburring edges of a root of a turbine blade, comprising:

• providing individual packages each containing a turbine blade body enclosed within a block-like capsule of protective material with the root of the turbine blade projecting outwardly of the block-like capsule;
• providing a machining cell having upright walls joined to a top wall and defining therein a substantially closed interior room;
• providing a package supply system exteriorly of said machining cell with a discharge end of the supply system projecting through an upright wall of the cell for communication with the room;
• providing a package receiving station within said room adjacent the discharge end of said supply system;
• providing a machining station within said room, the machining station including a machine head with a rotating tool;
• providing a brushing station within said room;
• providing a package discharge system having an inlet within said room with said discharge system projecting outwardly through an upright wall for discharge exteriorly of the cell;
• providing a multi-axis robot within said room with said robot having a movable arm provided with relatively movable opposed grippers associated therewith for gripping a said package;
• providing a plurality of packages to said supply system exteriorly of said room and then moving the packages sequentially toward the discharge end of the supply system;
• sequentially and intermittently discharging packages from the discharge end of said supply system to said receiving station;
• sensing the package at the receiving station to determine (1) if the proper package has been supplied to the receiving station and (2) if the package is properly oriented at the receiving station;
• discharging the package from the receiving station into a reject station if one of the sensed conditions provides a signal which indicates either an improper package or an improper orientation thereof;
• moving the robot arm into gripping engagement with the package at the receiving station and thereafter moving the robot arm and the package gripped thereby to the machining station;
• moving the robot arm and the package gripped thereby such that the package is moved into contact with the rotating tool at the machining station, and thereafter moving the package through a path such that the edges extending peripherally around the root are successively engaged with the rotating tool so as to effect deburring of the edges;
• moving the robot arm and the package gripped thereby to the brushing station;
• thereafter moving the robot arm the package gripped thereby such that the package is moved into contact with a brush arrangement so that the surrounding peripheral edge of the root is contacted by the bristles of the brush arrangement to effect rounding thereof;
• thereafter moving the robot arm and the package gripped thereby to a discharge station and discharging the package onto the inlet end of the discharge system;
• and
• then moving the package along the discharge system outwardly through the upright wall of the cell.

An automated method of processing a turbine blade part, said method comprising:

• supplying a part to a sensing location;
• sensing the properties of the part at the sensing location, without manual sensing or manipulation, to determine at least one of:
• whether the correct part has been supplied and whether the part is properly oriented;
• transporting the part, without manual intervention, to a first station within a substantially enclosed cell and cutting the part at the first station to remove excess material therefrom;
• transporting the part, without manual intervention, to a second station within the enclosed cell and polishing the part at the second station;
• and
• discharging the finished part from the enclosed cell.

An automated process for finishing edges of a root of a turbine blade, said process comprising:

• providing a plurality of individual parts each containing a turbine blade body and a root projecting outwardly therefrom;
• performing the following steps (A) through (F) without manual intervention:
• (A) sensing an individual part to determine at least one of (1) if the proper part is present and (2) if the part is properly oriented;
• (B) rejecting the part if an improper part is present or the part is improperly oriented;
• (C) transporting the part to a cutting station;
• (D) moving the part into contact with a cutting tool at the cutting station so as to create a chamfer along the respective edges of the root;
• (E) transporting the part to a brushing station;
• and
• (F) moving the part into contact with a brush located at the brushing station to round the chamfered edges of the root.