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Automated proof inspection of turbine blades

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Abstract

The first article inspection of cast turbine blades is on the critical path of a new aeroengine. The current methods used are open to automation using CMM's and non-contact gauges to reduce lead times. A graphics system is discussed which allows modelling of the blade and Computer-Aided Part Programming of CMM's to produce a Neutral Data File for post processing. Once measured on the CMM the actual blade is modelled and bestfitted to the design intent. This allows subsequent error analysis to be carried out. Such a system is essential to make sense of large amounts of co-ordinate data and storage of dimensional variation at stages in the manufacturing process.

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Abbreviations

P(t) :

B-spline curve function

N(t) o t,k :

Normalised de-Boor-Cox blend function

A i :

Beizier polygon coefficients

k :

Order of spline

t :

Parameter of B-spline

e x :

Linear error in X direction

e y :

Linear error in Y direction

e z :

Linear error in Z direction

e α :

Rotational error in XY plane

e β :

Rotational error in XZ plane

e ψ :

Rotational error in YZ plane

δn :

Interval between point numbers

e xt :

Mean error value in X direction

e :

Surface error vector

e r :

Residual error

i, j, k :

Direction cosines of normal vector

δx :

Movement of aerofoil in X direction

δy :

Movement of aerofoil in Y direction

δz :

Movement of aerofoil in Z direction

δθ:

Rotation about Z axis

δψ:

Rotation about Y axis

δα:

Rotation about X axis

c :

Filter weighting factor

ρ:

Difference in surface curvature

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Imperial College/Rolls-Royce Teaching Company, Imperial College, Exhibition Road, SW7 2BX, London, UK

    M. Cardew-Hall, J. Cosmas & M. Ristic

Authors
  1. M. Cardew-Hall
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  2. J. Cosmas
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  3. M. Ristic
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Cardew-Hall, M., Cosmas, J. & Ristic, M. Automated proof inspection of turbine blades. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 3, 67–88 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02601613

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02601613

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