Disclosed is a root end element for attachment to a root end of a wind turbine blade, a root end manipulator configured to manipulate a wind turbine blade, and a blade manipulation system comprising the root end element and the root end manipulator. The root end element being configured to support the root end of the wind turbine blade.

An exemplary shroud milling method includes milling a convex side of a shroud, milling a concave side of the shroud, and holding a shroud within a common fixture when milling the convex side and when milling the concave side.

An EDM machine includes a machine head, a wire guide, a machining wire extending from the wire guide to the machine head, a rotary table mounted to a first surface and a fixed table mounted to the rotary table, and a fixture mounted to the fixed table. The fixture includes a mounting portion substantially circumscribing the fixture. The mounting portion further includes a mounting surface. The mounting surface is closer to a first surface than an upper surface of the fixed table.

A fixture for a thin-walled workpiece includes two clamping devices. Each of the clamping devices has a metal carrier and a damper. The metal carrier has a carrying portion and a supporting portion, where the supporting portion has a stair portion having a plane surface and a standing surface with a slope. The damper has a metal clamping portion and a damping portion. One end of the metal clamping portion is formed as an inclined surface. The damping portion has at least two elastic layers and at least one metal layer, which are laminated in an interlacing arrangement with the same slope of the inclined surface. One of the elastic layers is disposed to connect the inclined surface. The end of the metal clamping portion connecting the elastic layer is located on the stair portion, while the opposite end of the metal clamping portion protrudes out of the supporting portion.

A system includes a stand having a first axis, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm extend from the axis. The first arm is configured to rotate about the axis and the second arm is configured to rotate about the axis. The system includes a first can coupled to the first arm. The first can is configured to be disposed around a first tip of a first airfoil, the first can is configured to receive a first gas flow, and the first can is configured to distribute the first gas flow to a first work cavity around the first tip of the first airfoil. The system further includes a second can coupled to the second arm. The second can is configured to be disposed around a second tip of a second airfoil, the second can is configured to receive a second gas flow, and the second can is configured to distribute the second gas flow to a second work cavity of the second airfoil.

A method for processing a CMC airfoil includes nesting an airfoil fiber preform in a cavity of a fixture that has first and second tool segments, closing the fixture by rotating a first tool segment about a hinge, the closing causing the tool segments to clamp on a tail portion of the fiber preform and thereby conform the tail portion to the fixture. While in the fixture, the fiber preform is then partially densified with an interface coating material to form a partially densified fiber preform. While still in the fixture, one or more cooling holes are drilled into the trailing edge of the partially densified fiber preform. After the drilling, the partially densified fiber preform is removed from the fixture and further densified with a ceramic matrix material to form a fully densified CMC airfoil.

A tooling fixture assembly for processing a component of a gas turbine engine is provided. The tooling fixture assembly includes a component nesting fixture for precisely positioning the component within the fixture using a plurality of datum locators. A transfer block is also positioned at a known location and orientation relative to the component and an adhesive is used to fix the relative position of the component and the transfer block. The component and the transfer block are then removed from the component nesting fixture and installed on a machine for drilling, machining, or otherwise processing the component. After the machining is complete, the adhesive may be removed, such that the component may be detached from the transfer block.

A method includes applying a force to elastically deform at least a portion of a superalloy turbine blade from a relaxed, initial position to an elastically deformed position. The at least a portion of the superalloy turbine blade has a curvature in the elastically deformed position not present in the relaxed, initial position. A hole is drilled generally span-wise through the at least a portion of the superalloy turbine blade in the elastically deformed position, and when the force is released, the superalloy turbine blade returns to the relaxed, initial position and the hole takes on a hole curvature within the at least a portion of the superalloy turbine blade.

A tooling for fastening metal reinforcement on the leading edge of a turbine engine blade, the tooling including a blade support for receiving a blade while leaving surfaces of the leading edge of the blade disengaged; and a leading edge reinforcement support on which the blade support is designed to be mounted, and including two lateral wedges between which the metal reinforcement for the leading edge of the blade is positioned, the wedges being suitable for being capable of moving towards each other and apart from each other and each of them being provided with a suction grid for gripping the metal reinforcement, the leading edge reinforcement support further including heater elements for polymerizing an adhesive film applied on the leading edge surfaces of the blade.

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.