Bladed Disc Manufacturing with Temporary Bridging Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing of one-piece blisks for aircraft turbine engines using abrasive water jet cutting followed by milling faces issues with blade deformations and vibrations, leading to reduced feed rates and increased production times and costs due to tool wear.

Innovation Solution

The method involves cutting a block of material to reveal blade preforms with a retaining ring that connects them radially, allowing high feed rates and reducing vibrations, followed by removing the connecting means to prevent deformations and vibrations during the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cutting by abrasive water jet is used to remove material before milling, then manufacturing time and cost are reduced, but blade deformations and vibrations increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing speedVSAvoidblade deformation control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the manufacturing process into distinct phases: first cutting all blades simultaneously from the block using abrasive water jet to remove bulk material, then separately supporting each blade during individual milling operations. This segmentation allows high-speed bulk removal while enabling precise control during finishing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary cutting of all blade preforms from the block before any milling operations. By pre-shaping the blades with abrasive water jet cutting while they are still supported by the block, the invention enables subsequent precise milling with reduced vibrations, as the blades are already接近 their final shape and properly supported.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If high feed rates are applied to tools during manufacturing, then production time is reduced, but blade vibrations increase and quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeed rateVSAvoidblade quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary cutting of all blade preforms from the block before any milling operations. By pre-shaping the blades with abrasive water jet cutting while they are still supported by the block, the invention enables subsequent precise milling with reduced vibrations, as the blades are already接近 their final shape and properly supported.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses the block itself as an intermediary supporting structure during the cutting phase. The block provides natural support to all blade preforms simultaneously, allowing high-speed cutting without vibrations. This eliminates the need for external support structures that would limit feed rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If blades are left unsupported during cutting, then tool wear is reduced, but blade deformations increase and production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool wearVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary cutting of all blade preforms from the block before any milling operations. By pre-shaping the blades with abrasive water jet cutting while they are still supported by the block, the invention enables subsequent precise milling with reduced vibrations, as the blades are already接近 their final shape and properly supported.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses the block itself as an intermediary supporting structure during the cutting phase. The block provides natural support to all blade preforms simultaneously, allowing high-speed cutting without vibrations. This eliminates the need for external support structures that would limit feed rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly reduces blade deformations and vibrations, enabling higher feed rates, shorter production times, and lower tool wear, thus reducing production costs while maintaining the quality of the blisk.

Implementation Method 1

a step of cutting a block of material by abrasive water jet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP2257407B1Method for producing a one-piece bladed disc, with temporary blade-supporting ring at a distance from their tips
Publication Date: 2016.09.07 SN DETUDE & DE CONSTR DE MOTEURS DAVIATION (S N E C M A)
  • EP2257407B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2257407B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2257407B1 patent drawingFigure 2c

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for producing a one-piece bladed disc, comprising: a step in which an abrasive water jet is used to cut a block of material (100), in such a way as to leave behind blade preforms (102) extending radially from a disc (4), while keeping material forming bridging means (112) between directly consecutive blade preforms, the cutting step being performed in such a way that said bridging means form basically a ring radially remote from the disc and interconnecting the blade preforms at a distance radially inward from their tips; and then a step of removing the bridging means (112).