Method and apparatus for near net shape rapid rough electromachining for blisks
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBin Wei, Martin Lee, Roger Etherington, Michael Lamphere
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ring or inverted-cup shaped cutting element is used as a tool electrode for electromachining to rough machine the airfoils on blisks to near net shape. The cutting element is rotated and positioned with respect to the blisk by a CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) drive arrangement.
Claims19
An arrangement for machining airfoils on a blisk, comprising:
- an annular cutting element supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and adapted for an electromachining process, wherein the annular cutting element comprises an annular lip of an inverted cup-shaped member.
An arrangement for machining airfoils on a blisk, comprising:
- an annular cutting element supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and adapted for an electromachining process, wherein the annular cutting element is supported on a shaped support plate and is supported so as to be rotatable with respect thereto by a plurality of rollers, and wherein the shaped plate is essentially C-shaped.
An arrangement for machining airfoils on a blisk, comprising:
- an annular cutting element supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and adapted for an electromachining process, wherein the annular cutting element includes a plurality of shallow slots.
A method of machining airfoils on a blisk, comprising the steps of:
- driving an annular cutting element to rotate about its axis;
- supplying the annular cutting element with a supply of electricity;
- supplying the annular cutting element with a supply of fluid;
- moving the annular cutting element in three mutually opposed directions using a programmable control arrangement to erode material from a work piece to form the blisk.
An arrangement for machining airfoils on a blisk, comprising:
- means for driving an annular cutting element to rotate about its axis;
- means for supplying the annular cutting element with a supply of electricity;
- means for supplying the annular cutting element with a supply of fluid;
- means for moving the annular cutting element in three mutually opposed directions using a programmable control arrangement to erode material from a work piece to form the blisk;
- and
- a plurality of shallow slots formed in the annular cutting element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.