Abstract:
A sleeve may be configured to secure an airfoil cluster for polishing. The sleeve may include a mock airfoil and a bypass flow path between the mock airfoil and an end wall of the sleeve. The sleeve may be positioned in an annular ring of sleeves in a polishing apparatus. The polishing apparatus may comprise an annular flow path for an abrasive fluid. The abrasive fluid may be flowed through the annular ring of sleeves in order to polish the airfoil cluster.
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.
Abstract:
An upper shield and a lower shield may be coupled to a rotor for polishing airfoils of the rotor in a vibratory bowl. The upper shield and the lower shield may include spars. The spars may correspond to leading edges and trailing edges of the airfoils. A media including abrasive particles may be flowed through the rotor in the vibratory bowl. The spars may protect the leading edges and trailing edges of the airfoils from excessive material removal by the abrasive particles.
Abstract:
A tool comprising a plurality of wear indicators is provided. The tool may be made from a rapid prototyping process. The tool may be used in an abrasive processing operation. The tool may comprise one or more control elements, (e.g., control geometries, part interfaces, fixture interfaces and/or the like). These control elements may comprise indicators of tool wear. The indicators may be inspected physically (e.g., by touch) and/or visually.
Abstract:
A fixture assembly includes a frame with a tip rail displaced from a main body. A method of polishing a gas turbine engine component includes restricting a flow of media adjacent to a tip of a component with an airfoil to be generally equal to a flow of media adjacent to a sidewall of the airfoil.
Abstract:
A part comprising a one or more removable wear indicators is provided. The part may be a stator segment comprising a plurality of airfoils. The stator segment may also comprise one or more mock airfoils at each end of the stator segment. Each of the mock airfoils may comprise an indicator configured to wear during a polishing process.
Abstract:
A fixture assembly includes an inner diameter wall displaced from a main body by a first end wall with a convex surface and a second end wall with a concave surface. A method of machining a gas turbine engine component with an Abrasive Flow Media (AFM) process includes restricting a flow of media adjacent to an outer sidewall of an outer airfoil to be generally equal between each of a multiple of airfoils of the component.
Abstract:
A tool for use during the abrasive flow polishing of an airfoil cluster in an abrasive flow machine is described. The tool may comprise a body and prongs extending from the body. Each prong of the tool may be configured to insert between an adjacent pair of airfoils of the airfoil cluster to create at least one channel therebetween. The channel may allow the flow of an abrasive media therethrough.
Abstract:
An upper shield and a lower shield may be coupled to a rotor for polishing airfoils of the rotor in a vibratory bowl. The upper shield and the lower shield may include spars. The spars may correspond to leading edges and trailing edges of the airfoils. A media including abrasive particles may be flowed through the rotor in the vibratory bowl. The spars may protect the leading edges and trailing edges of the airfoils from excessive material removal by the abrasive particles.
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.