The three-part clamping system holds the blade-integrated disk blades (just below the middle of the picture in white). Cooling lubricant is being injected from above. (© Fraunhofer IPT)

Compressor disks for aircraft turbines are milled from a single piece of material. During processing, the blades begin to vibrate. Now, a novel clamping system boosts vibration absorption for the blades by more than 400 times, and cuts manufacturing costs. The new clamping system lets manufacturers roughly mill the blades first, and then perform the precise finishing work because the blades no longer vibrate.

Spring-loaded clamps automatically grasp the blade with equal amounts of tension on both sides. As soon as the elements are in position, they are hydraulically clamped in place and hold the workpiece as if it had grown there.

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