5-axis Machining a Compressor Wheel
03-07-2007, 06:30 PM
#1
0.0 BAR
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Join Date: May 2005
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5-axis Machining a Compressor Wheel
03-07-2007, 10:10 PM
#4
3.0 BAR
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,255
Re: 5-axis Machining a Compressor Wheel
I work on a 4 axis lathe everyday making bearing races for aerospace and helicopter companies
let me tell you, when these ******* crash (aka ---- running into eachother) ---- does it ever do a lot of damage.
Parts are $$$ to
Never seen a 5axis like that though, pretty cool
let me tell you, when these ******* crash (aka ---- running into eachother) ---- does it ever do a lot of damage.
Parts are $$$ to
Never seen a 5axis like that though, pretty cool
03-08-2007, 06:10 AM
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2002
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Re: 5-axis Machining a Compressor Wheel
Originally Posted by ChevyIIMan
I saw a 5 axis machine porting a Ford V8 head. It was pretty slick to watch.
I friend of mine who ports heads is proably going that route. Oddly though cnc heads still get finished by hand atleast the ones I have seen.
03-08-2007, 08:23 AM
#8
0.0 BAR
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Join Date: May 2005
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Re: 5-axis Machining a Compressor Wheel
Originally Posted by ChevyIIMan
Yeah they rough them in and then hand finish them but damn its cuts alot of work out.
03-08-2007, 10:30 AM
#10
1.5 BAR
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 877
Re: 5-axis Machining a Compressor Wheel
Woah that's cool to see.
They machine the wheel out of wax because they make the compressor wheels by investment casting, which process is just as impressive:
basically, that wax pattern is coated in sequences of soaking in diffrent slurries and powered with gradually increasing grits of sands (fine grit first for smooth surface finish, coarser grit later for mold strenght), resulting in a SHELL around the wax pattern. This shell is then put in an autoclave where the wax melts down almost instantly and leaks out of the shell leaving an open cavity of the exact dimensions of the compressor wheel. This fragile mold is then put in a furnace where the layered shell transforms in a solid ceramic mold, while it'S still glowing red, aluminum is poured in the mold and immediately put in a pressurized vessel to force any bubles out before it solidifies. Once cooled down, the shell is boken with high pressure waterjets, the sprue for pouring the aluminum in is cut off, the extremities of the blades are machined to the desired trim, as well as the shaft hole and the bottom of the wheel, it gets balanced and there you go.
They machine the wheel out of wax because they make the compressor wheels by investment casting, which process is just as impressive:
basically, that wax pattern is coated in sequences of soaking in diffrent slurries and powered with gradually increasing grits of sands (fine grit first for smooth surface finish, coarser grit later for mold strenght), resulting in a SHELL around the wax pattern. This shell is then put in an autoclave where the wax melts down almost instantly and leaks out of the shell leaving an open cavity of the exact dimensions of the compressor wheel. This fragile mold is then put in a furnace where the layered shell transforms in a solid ceramic mold, while it'S still glowing red, aluminum is poured in the mold and immediately put in a pressurized vessel to force any bubles out before it solidifies. Once cooled down, the shell is boken with high pressure waterjets, the sprue for pouring the aluminum in is cut off, the extremities of the blades are machined to the desired trim, as well as the shaft hole and the bottom of the wheel, it gets balanced and there you go.
