Controlled peening of turbine blades

Citation

(2000), "Controlled peening of turbine blades", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772ead.010

Controlled peening of turbine blades

Controlled peening of turbine blades

Keywords USF Vacu-Blast, Peening, Turbines, Blades

USF Vacu-Blast reports that it has developed a variant of its "Ventus 150 AXT" automatic cabinet machine, specifically for the controlled steel shot, glass or ceramic bead peening of blade aerofoils and similar parts from aeroengines and other gas turbines, for fatigue life enhancement (Plate 2). It can also be used for precision abrasive blasting applications requiring the selective processing of complex components.

Plate 2 The new variant Ventus 150 AXT automatic cabinet machine from USF Vacu-Blast

The machine is said to achieve production rates of up to 120 components an hour and has been designed for use by a single operator working within a manufacturing cell or dedicated engine repair and overhaul facility. Special features have been included which claim to minimise noise, prevent the escape of peening media and dust, and simplify operator involvement. No special machine operator training is necessary, beyond straightforward machine familiarisation.

The parts to be peened are precisely retained in purpose-designed polyurethane masks which locate, grip and mask the area to be processed. These can be loaded in a cassette to streamline batch production. All processing parameters – peening duration, media flow rate and pressure – are reported to be easily adjusted via a reliable PLC and its associated controls, which are mounted on a user-friendly console. Audible and visual alarms notify the operator when the process is complete.

Peening media is recovered and recycled automatically and continuously during the process via an in-cycle regrading system. This, it is explained, ensures that only good quality media is reused, in order to maintain process integrity and consistency. There is also the option of in-cycle peening media size-and-shape classification.

The Ventus 150 AXT machine is described as robustly constructed, incorporates special acoustic materials to minimise noise and a high performance dust collector with after-filtration optimises dust collector performance and minimises dust emission. The peening enclosure dimensions are 1,500mm 1,400mm 1,000mm high. Pressure- or suction-fed versions of the machine are available.

Details available from USF Vacu-Blast International, USF Surface Preparation Group Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1753 526511; Fax: +44 (0)1753 538093.