A blade outer air seal for a gas turbine engine having a surface that is eccentric with respect to the engine rotation centerline, and a method for creating same, are disclosed. Also, a method for grinding a work piece having nominal curvature defined by a work piece curvature centerline is disclosed, comprising the steps of: a) determining a desired surface profile for the work piece; b) providing a rotating grinding surface having a grinding rotation centerline; c) offsetting the grinding rotation centerline from the work piece curvature centerline; and d) applying the rotating grinding surface to the work piece while rotating the rotating grinding surface about the grinding rotation centerline to create the desired surface profile.

A blade outer air seal for a gas turbine engine having a surface that is eccentric with respect to the engine rotation centerline, and a method for creating same, are disclosed. Also, a method for grinding a work piece having nominal curvature defined by a work piece curvature centerline is disclosed, comprising the steps of: a) determining a desired surface profile for the work piece; b) providing a rotating grinding surface having a grinding rotation centerline; c) offsetting the grinding rotation centerline from the work piece curvature centerline; and d) applying the rotating grinding surface to the work piece while rotating the rotating grinding surface about the grinding rotation centerline to create the desired surface profile.

An abrasive profiling tool that may be part of a robotic machining system for machining a trailing edge of an airfoil, includes a shank extending along a rotational axis, a bearing guide rotationally secured to a distal end of the shank for riding upon the airfoil; and an abrasive profiler projecting radially and rigidly outward from the shank for grinding at least the trailing edge as the shank rotates. The profiler may include a round-over portion for grinding the trailing edge and a chamfered blending portion for grinding adjacent surfaces of the airfoil to produce a smooth transition from the adjacent surfaces and to the trailing edge.

An abrasive profiling tool that may be part of a robotic machining system for machining a trailing edge of an airfoil, includes a shank extending along a rotational axis, a bearing guide rotationally secured to a distal end of the shank for riding upon the airfoil; and an abrasive profiler projecting radially and rigidly outward from the shank for grinding at least the trailing edge as the shank rotates. The profiler may include a round-over portion for grinding the trailing edge and a chamfered blending portion for grinding adjacent surfaces of the airfoil to produce a smooth transition from the adjacent surfaces and to the trailing edge.

There is described a method, apparatus and shaping tool for shaping a workpiece. The tool comprises a flexible support surface on which are mounted a number of rigid pellets (84) carrying abrasive material. The tool is driven, in contact with the workpiece surface (S), to perform a ductile grinding operation which results in a finished surface of reduced roughness as compared to conventional grinding operations, while achieving significantly higher material removal rates than comparable ultra-precision grinding techniques. A procedure for preparing the tool for operation by conditioning the tool against a conditioning surface is also described. An exemplary application for the method and apparatus is in the preparation of moulds for moulding curved glass components for use in display screens, in which process a silicon carbide mould cavity surface is shaped using the method to produce a mould cavity surface with a smooth surface finish.

There is described a method, apparatus and shaping tool for shaping a workpiece. The tool comprises a flexible support surface on which are mounted a number of rigid pellets (84) carrying abrasive material. The tool is driven, in contact with the workpiece surface (S), to perform a ductile grinding operation which results in a finished surface of reduced roughness as compared to conventional grinding operations, while achieving significantly higher material removal rates than comparable ultra-precision grinding techniques. A procedure for preparing the tool for operation by conditioning the tool against a conditioning surface is also described. An exemplary application for the method and apparatus is in the preparation of moulds for moulding curved glass components for use in display screens, in which process a silicon carbide mould cavity surface is shaped using the method to produce a mould cavity surface with a smooth surface finish.

A system for robotic paint repair that can include a consumable abrasive product configured to abrade a substrate, a tool configured to drive the consumable abrasive product to abrade, a backup pad configured to couple with the consumable abrasive product, a robotic device configured to manipulate the tool, a pressure regulating apparatus mountable to the robotic device and configured to apply a desired pressure to the consumable abrasive product, a sensor configured to measure at least one of a rotational velocity of the backup pad or a debris pattern from the substrate that results from abrading, and a pressure controller configured to control the pressure regulating apparatus to apply the desired pressure based upon the at least one of the measured rotational velocity of the backup pad or the measured debris pattern.

A system for robotic paint repair that can include a consumable abrasive product configured to abrade a substrate, a tool configured to drive the consumable abrasive product to abrade, a backup pad configured to couple with the consumable abrasive product, a robotic device configured to manipulate the tool, a pressure regulating apparatus mountable to the robotic device and configured to apply a desired pressure to the consumable abrasive product, a sensor configured to measure at least one of a rotational velocity of the backup pad or a debris pattern from the substrate that results from abrading, and a pressure controller configured to control the pressure regulating apparatus to apply the desired pressure based upon the at least one of the measured rotational velocity of the backup pad or the measured debris pattern.

A system for repairing a paint defect of a part can have means for identifying the paint defect of the part, a robotic applicator, and a computer module. The robotic applicator can include a dispenser and a pad. The robotic applicator can be configured to position the dispenser and the pad adjacent to the paint defect of the part. The dispenser can be configured to atomize a composition into an atomized composition. The dispenser can be also configured to dispose a predetermined amount of the atomized composition on the paint defect. The pad can be configured to work the predetermined amount of the atomized composition on the paint defect. The computer module can be in communication with the robotic applicator. The computer module can be configured to control functions of the robotic applicator.

A method for abrading a surface of a workpiece by means of an abrasion machine, including the following steps: (a) acquiring, with at least one sensor, on at least one portion of the surface of the workpiece, data in relation to at least one characteristic of the workpiece in at least two basic zones defined on the surface, processing, for each basic zone, the data in relation to the at least one characteristic in order to assign, to each basic zone and/or at least one group of basic zones, a value for this characteristic, determining and/or adjusting at least one abrasion parameter for the abrasion machine and/or an abrasion trajectory in accordance with the values attributed for the basic zones or group of basic zones, abrading at least a portion of the surface with the abrasion machine with the at least one abrasion parameter and the abrasion trajectory.