Disclosed is a method for machining a component, comprising: installing the component on a fixture, causing a medium of the fixture to solidify to encase a first portion of the component, applying a toolset to a second portion of the component that is outside of the solidified medium, and subsequent to applying the toolset, extracting the component from the fixture when the medium is in one of a liquid state or a semi-liquid state, where the medium has a melting-point temperature that is less than 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Disclosed is a fixture for machining a component, comprising: a medium configured to encase a first portion of the component when the medium is in a solidified state, and a toolset configured to be applied to a second portion of the component that is outside of the solidified medium, the medium having a melting-point temperature that is less than 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

A device for stabilizing a workpiece, in particular a thin-walled workpiece mounted in a machine tool, comprises at least one base; and a plurality of stabilizing elements. The stabilizing elements protrude away from one surface of the base, wherein the stabilizing element comprises a cylinder and a rod arranged therein and the rod can be driven hydraulically to move in the axial direction of the stabilizing element such that the rod of at least two of the stabilizing elements can be brought into contact with one surface of the workpiece.

A gas turbine engine article includes a baffle that is configured to be mounted in a cavity of a gas turbine engine component. The baffle has a baffle wall that circumscribes an open interior region. The baffle wall includes a forward wall, side walls, and an aft wall. The side walls include impingement orifices, and the aft wall defines two datum features. At least one of the datum features is a dimple that is a portion of a sphere.

A method for building structures on existing components includes preparing an auxiliary plate suitable for fastening on the working plate, wherein the auxiliary plate has at least one reference marking, fastening the component on the auxiliary plate, optionally processing the at least one surface to be processed for providing a surface that is substantially parallel to the working plane of the device, measuring the at least one reference marking and the component, wherein the position is recorded, introducing the auxiliary plate with the at least one reference marking and the component into the device and detachably fastening the auxiliary plate on the working plate and processing the component in the device for additive manufacturing by working data on the basis of measuring data. A device and a composite structure for additive manufacturing is used in the method.

The invention relates to a retaining device for disassembling a bladed wheel of a turbine engine. The invention is characterized in that the retaining device (100) includes: an inter-blade ring sector (101), a plurality of retaining clips (105), each retaining clip (105) cooperating with one of the damping elements (40), the retaining clips (105) extending radially while being attached circumferentially to the ring sector (101).

A clamping mechanism for machining a composite component. The clamping mechanism comprising two or more opposing clamping plates, each clamping plate comprising a clamping surface; and wherein each clamping surface is adaptable to follow the microstructural surface of the composite component being clamped. The clamping surface may comprise a plurality of deformable micropillars featuring a body that extends to a base on the clamping plates and a head that deforms to follow the microstructural surface of the composite component. The clamping surface in use may be an exact negative of the microstructural surface of the component clamping surface. Each clamping surface may comprise a disposable insert that replicates exclusively at the point of contact the microstructural surface of the component being clamped.

A method of bonding a blade cuff to a rotor blade includes installing the blade cuff to a root end of the rotor blade. The method includes mounting the rotor blade within a plurality of supports. The method includes coupling the blade cuff to a first fixture. The method includes installing a second fixture about the blade cuff. The method further includes applying localized and constant heat and pressure to the blade cuff via the second fixture.

Some embodiments are directed to a machine tool holding device for clamping a piece to be clamped that includes a contact surface. The holding device includes at least one claw intended to come into contact with the contact surface of the piece to be clamped. The claw includes a plurality of clamping plates stacked on each other, and each including on their edge a clamping surface arranged to be in contact with a portion of the contact surface of the piece to be clamped.

A method and system temporarily holds a workpiece, most suitably an aero engine turbine blade element during manufacture. The workholding system includes a support body with a contoured body surface, complementary to a workpiece surface, formed of a transparent material to define a bonding zone. The support body is supported by a base to form a workpiece shuttle, and a bond station receives the workpiece shuttle. Complementary zero-point locating elements on the shuttle and station assure accurate positioning. The bond station further has workpiece locating elements configured to accurately position the workpiece on the shuttle in a predetermined position relative to the zero-point locating elements of the shuttle, thereby compensating for shuttle-to-shuttle variance. An adhesive, such as a UV curable adhesive, is applied to the bonding zone and cured by UV through the transparent material, thereby fixing the workpiece in the predetermined position.

A directional translating clamping device comprises a housing that includes a distal housing end and proximate housing end separated along a central axis, and a housing recess at the proximate housing end and extending along the central axis end. The device also includes a slide located in the housing recess, and the slide comprises a slide recess at a slide proximate end co-axial with the housing recess, and a detent in a radial sidewall of the slide prevents the slide from translating beyond a predetermined axial distance along the central axis. A spring is located in the housing recess and exerts an axial force on the distal end of the slide. A stub shaft extends from the distal end of the housing. A roller ball assembly includes a threaded sidewall that engages with the slide recess to removably and replaceably secure the roller ball assembly to the slide.