An apparatus and method for the automatic manufacturing of wind turbine blades, including an elongate tool support (2) with a main suspension beam (4), a plurality of support frames (8) supporting the main suspension beam (4) above the wind turbine blade mould (1), an elongate guide rail (5) provided on the main suspension beam (4) so as to extend longitudinally along the main suspension beam (4), a slider base (6) slidably mounted on the guide rail (5), a drive mechanism (53) for driving the slider base (6) longitudinally along the guide rail (5) and a tool holder (7) mounted on the slider base (6). The apparatus/method improves the efficiency and accuracy of the blade manufacture, and also reduces the exposure of the human body to harmful substances used in blade manufacture.

An apparatus and method for the automatic manufacturing of wind turbine blades, including an elongate tool support (2) with a main suspension beam (4), a plurality of support frames (8) supporting the main suspension beam (4) above the wind turbine blade mould (1), an elongate guide rail (5) provided on the main suspension beam (4) so as to extend longitudinally along the main suspension beam (4), a slider base (6) slidably mounted on the guide rail (5), a drive mechanism (53) for driving the slider base (6) longitudinally along the guide rail (5) and a tool holder (7) mounted on the slider base (6). The apparatus/method improves the efficiency and accuracy of the blade manufacture, and also reduces the exposure of the human body to harmful substances used in blade manufacture.

Disclosed is a flow lapping device for smoothing at least one surface of at least one workpiece, preferably an impeller, by an abrasive fluid including at least one holding device for holding the workpiece, in particular including at least one holding plate, as well as at least one encasing device arranged around the holding device and within which the fluid can flow, wherein the holding device is at least partially supported, in particular fixed, by at least one inner wall section of the encasing device.

Disclosed is a flow lapping device for smoothing at least one surface of at least one workpiece, preferably an impeller, by an abrasive fluid including at least one holding device for holding the workpiece, in particular including at least one holding plate, as well as at least one encasing device arranged around the holding device and within which the fluid can flow, wherein the holding device is at least partially supported, in particular fixed, by at least one inner wall section of the encasing device.

A surface treatment vehicle for manufacturing a wind turbine blade is provided, the vehicle including: a transportation unit for locomotion of the vehicle, and a filling unit for applying a filler material on a surface of the blade, wherein the filling unit includes: a dispensing head for dispensing the filler material, the dispensing head being moveably attached to the transportation unit, and a tank for storing the filler material, the tank being attached to the transportation unit and fluidly connected to the dispensing head. Having the surface treatment vehicle with the filling unit allows an easier, faster, safer and more efficient manufacturing of a wind turbine blade.

A tool for removing a coating from an interior surface of a component. The tool includes a rotary device; a grinding attachment attached to the rotary device; a tool holder configured to: set an axial position of the grinding attachment coupled to the rotary device over the coating on the interior surface of the component; and set a radial position of the grinding attachment coupled to the rotary device, the radial position defining a cutting depth of the grinding attachment into the coating on the interior surface of the component; and a wheel assembly coupled to the tool holder for guiding the tool holder about an interior perimeter of the component.

The present invention relates to a method for smoothing a surface of a component, in which a component is placed in a liquid-solids mixture; a relative movement is produced between the liquid-solids mixture and the component; thus there is a flow of the liquid-solids mixture along the surface; wherein there is provided in the liquid-solids mixture a guide surface, along which the liquid-solids mixture flows, wherein a directional component toward the surface is imposed on the flow.

A method of polishing a metallic workpiece includes: mounting the workpiece in a hopper; loading the hopper with a polishing media comprising, by weight percent, more than 98% metallic chips, less than 2% liquid, and less than 0.05% abrasive; and oscillating the hopper for a run time, thereby generating a flow of the polishing media over the workpiece, until a predetermined surface finish is achieved on the workpiece.

Vibratory treatment apparatus including a first receptacle arranged to receive media for vibratory treatment of the article, the first receptacle defining a first aperture; and a first valve positioned at the first aperture of the first receptacle, the first valve being arranged to allow passage of the article there through and to prevent the flow of media through the first aperture.

Vibratory treatment apparatus including a first receptacle arranged to receive media for vibratory treatment of the article, the first receptacle defining a first aperture; and a first valve positioned at the first aperture of the first receptacle, the first valve being arranged to allow passage of the article there through and to prevent the flow of media through the first aperture.