Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to present the advantages of computer-aided design/rapid prototyping (CAD/RP) usage in designing and manufacturing of the core models used for precise casting with direct and single solidification of aircraft engine turbine blade cores. Design/methodology/approach -The process of modelling three-dimensional CAD geometry of research blade in relation to the model of the core was presented with different wax types used in the RP technique. Findings -The geometry of the blade model has been designed in a way which allows making a silicon mould on the basis of a base prototype in the process of rapid tooling (RP/RT). Filing by different wax types was investigated in mean of the impact on filling accuracy of the mould cavity. Originality/value -The resulting models were used to make ceramic moulds and carry further work on the development of casting technology in the process of directional solidification and single crystal solidification of core blades of aircraft engines.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present coordinate measuring system possibilities in the meaning of the geometric accuracy assessment of hot zone elements in aircraft engines. The aim of the paper is to prove that this method, which uses blue light and is most sufficient and cost-saving method, can to be used in the production line for serial manufacturing of elements, for which a high level of accuracy is required.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis of the geometric accuracy of the blades was performed using non-contact optical coordinate scanner ATOS Triple Scan II Blue Light, manufactured by GOM Company, at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rzeszów University of Technology. Geometric analysis was conducted for blades manufactured from different waxes (A7Fr/60 and RealWax VisiJet CPX200), thus comparing injection technique and rapid prototyping (RP) method, and for casting made of Inconel 713C nickel-based superalloy.
Findings
The analysis of the criteria for the method of blades’ measuring selection showed that the chosen system successfully met all criteria for the verification of blades’ geometry at the selected stages of the process. ATOS II optical scanner with blue light technology allows measurement almost regardless of daylight or artificial (white) light. This allows the application of the measurement system in the production cycle, thus eliminating the need to create special conditions for measurements.
Practical implications
Requirements related to the accuracy of measured values, diversity and allowable measurement time are linked with the methods of production. Modern manufacturing methods based on computer-aided design systems/manufacturing/engineering systems require a non-contact optical measurement method based on the computer-aided-based coordinate measuring technique. In case of the non-contact optical scanning method based on the ATOS GOM measuring system, time and measurement costs depend on the methodology of measurement and the possibility of its automation. This is why the presented paper has a practical impact on possibilities for the automation of geometric accuracy measurements of obtained elements in the series production line.
Social implications
The use of ATOS Triple Scan II Blue Light by GOM Company allows the reduction of cost and time of production because of the possibility of the introduction of this system in an automated production line. Additionally, the measurement of hot section blades of aircraft engines by using the blue light method is much more accurate and has implication as it impacts safety of further used manufactured elements.
Originality/value
This paper presents the possibility of using the ATOS Triple Scan II Blue Light measuring system for geometric accuracy measurements in case of hot section blades of aircraft engines. This research is original because it describes three model geometric accuracy measurements, wax model obtained using the injection technique, wax model obtained using the I RP process and casting made of Inco...
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