Over 100-m reach lets CNC machine turbine blades

A large and precise 5-axis CNC machine is available for cutting positive and negative molds for large turbine blades. The robot or gantry, called HSM-Modal, comes from EEW Maschinenbau in Germany. It can mill 1:1 scale negative and positive molds for rotor blades that are 50 m and more, and in one single piece. The machine also trims blades, and soon, it will lay glass-fiber mates into negative molds.

A few other features include:

• A feed rate of up to 150 m/min. This milling speed is faster than common large 5-axis machines.
• The axes are available in ranges of 3 to 151 m for the X, 3 to 9 m for the Y, and 1.75 to 4.25 m for the Z axis. Hence, a right-sized machine is available for the blades being considered.
• Accuracies are ± 0.2 mm in X and Y axes, and ± 0.17 mm/m in the Z.
• The machine’s light weight calls only a 200-mm thick reinforced concrete floor.
• Various CAD and CAM programs are compatible with the machine. Thus, new and more software is usually unnecessary. A post processor for the gantry can be supplied on request.
• Employee training can be carried out in a short period and at reasonable cost.