# US 9,751,187 B2 · Systems and methods for finishing flow elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,187 B2 - Document ID: US9751187B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/048,562 - Filed: 2016-02-19 - Published: 2016-06-16 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-29 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Micah Beckman; Osamuyimen A. Oyegun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751187B2 ## CPC - B24B 31/116: using plastically deformable grinding compound, moved relatively to the workpiece under the influence of pressure - B24B 1/04: subjecting the grinding or polishing tools, the abrading or polishing medium or work to vibration, e.g. grinding with ultrasonic frequency (involving oscillating or vibrating containers B24B31/06; superfinishing surfaces on work, e.g. by means of abrading blocks reciprocating with high frequency, B24B35/00) - B24B 19/14: for grinding turbine blades, propeller blades or the like (using grinding belts B24B21/16) - B24C 3/32: designed for abrasive blasting of particular work, e.g. the internal surfaces of cylinder blocks (B24C3/08, B24C3/18 take precedence) - C21D 7/06: by shot-peening or the like - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS - B24C: ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL - C21D: MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass C23F17/00; unidirectional solidification of eutectic materials or unidirectional demixing of eutectoid materials C30B) ## Abstract Systems and methods for finish portions of parts for gas turbine engines are provided. More specifically, systems and methods for finishing flow elements (e.g., stator vanes and turbine blades) or gas turbine engines are provided. The systems and methods may employ grit blasting, fluidic machining, and/or super polishing. Moreover, the flow elements may be inspected and/or evaluated between the one or more processing steps. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: fluidic machining at least a portion of a flow element to obtain a surface roughness of no more than 20 RA; inspecting the portion of the flow element; and after fluidic machining, super polishing the portion of the flow element to obtain a surface roughness of no more than 10 RA. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fluidic machining employs an abrasive paste. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the super polishing obtains a surface finish of less than 5 Ra. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the super polishing process employs a ceramic media loaded with an abrasive particle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the super polishing process employs water to create a paste with the abrasive particles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the flow element is created by a rapid prototyping process. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising grit blasting the flow element prior to the fluidic machining. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the flow element has a surface finish that includes a plurality of gouges. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the gouges are detectable after the super polishing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the gouges are an indication of the fluidic machining. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: subjecting a first part and a second part to a grit blast operation, wherein the first part comprises a first plurality of flow elements and the second part comprises a second plurality of flow elements subjecting the first part and the second part to a fluidic machining operation; and subjecting the first part and the second part to a super polishing process, wherein the surface roughness of the first plurality of flow elements and the second plurality of flow elements is not greater than 10 RA; wherein the fluidic machining operation introduces detectable gouges in at least one of the first part and the second part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising producing the first part from a rapid prototyping process and producing the second part from a rapid prototyping process. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of flow elements and the second plurality of flow elements have a surface roughness of not greater than 20 RA in response to the fluidic machining operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of flow elements and the second plurality of flow elements have a surface roughness of not greater than 5 RA in response to the super polishing process. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a detectable gouge is present in the surface of the first plurality of flow elements and the second plurality of flow elements in response to the super polishing process. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of parts are subjected to the grit blast operation, the fluidic machining operation and the super polishing operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein fluidic machining operation uses an abrasive paste.