Research on Aero-Engine Blade Machining Practice

This paper proposed the machining scheme of front and back combined for the blade according to the characteristics of the aero engine blades. Then the authors analyzed the entire process of the blade machining in detail, it included the machining resource selection, the process route development and NC programming created. Finally through the specific practices to verify the feasibility of the machining program.

Machining scheme selection based on a new discrete particle swarm optimization and analytic hierarchy process

The goal of machining scheme selection (MSS) is to select the most appropriate machining scheme for a previously designed part, for which the decision maker must take several aspects into consideration. Because many of these aspects may be conflicting, such as time, cost, quality, profit, resource utilization, and so on, the problem is rendered as a multiobjective one. Consequently, we consider a multiobjective optimization problem of MSS in this study, where production profit and machining quality are to be maximized while production cost and production time must be minimized, simultaneously. This paper presents a new discrete method for particle swarm optimization, which can be widely applied in MSS to find out the set of Pareto-optimal solutions for multiobjective optimization. To deal with multiple objectives and enable the decision maker to make decisions according to different demands on each evaluation index, an analytic hierarchy process is implemented to determine the weight value of evaluation indices. Case study is included to demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the hybrid algorithm. It is shown from the case study that the multiobjective optimization model can simply, effectively, and objectively select the optimal machining scheme according to the different demands on evaluation indices.

An Automated and Optimal Tool Path Planning System for the 3-1/2-1/2-Axis CNC Maching of Sculptured Parts

Some sculptured parts with complex free-form surfaces usually require expensive 5-axis CNC machining. In this work, a cost-effective and practical solution to the 5-axis sculptured part machining – 3-1/2-1/2-axis CNC machining scheme – is discussed. An automatic and optimal tool path planning system for 3-1/2-1/2-axis CNC machining is introduced. The system uses fuzzy pattern recognition method and Voronoi diagram to subdivide a complex sculptured surface into an optimal number of uniform surface patches, finds the optimal cutter/part orientation for each surface patch, and plans 3-axis CNC tool paths for them. This type of machining is carried out by rotating the part to the cutter/part orientations discretely and sequentially using a tilt-rotary table attached to the 3-axis CNC machine. Under each orientation, the corresponding surface patch is machined using the 3-axis CNC tool paths. This tool path planning system can automatically generate efficient tool paths for sculptured parts and make the 3-1/2-1/2-axis CNC machining scheme as an applicable alternative of 5-axis CNC machining method.