A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a blower blade including a plurality of blade portions having the same shape and arranged around a rotation axis line includes a machining device for machining the blower blade and a control device for controlling the machining device. The control device includes a command creation unit for creating an operation command to the machining device according to a machining program and a machining parameter, a balance measurement unit for measuring balance of the blower blade, and a machining amount adjustment unit configured to individually adjust a machining amount of each of the blade portions without changing the machining program, based on data of the balance of the blower blade measured by the balance measurement unit so as to reduce unbalance of the blower blade. A manufacturing method using the above-described manufacturing apparatus is also provided.

A screw fastening method includes reversely rotating a shaft part of a fastening tool in a direction of loosening one of an external thread and an internal thread, which is engaged with the shaft part, while one of the external thread in a non-screwed state and the internal thread in a non-screwed state, which is engaged with the shaft part, is pressed against the other thread, detecting collisions between thread ridges of the external thread and the internal thread using a sensor while the shaft part remains rotated reversely, determining whether or not a time interval between collisions detected by the sensor matches a theoretical cycle of collisions calculated from rotation speed of the shaft part, and fastening the external thread and the internal thread to each other by normally rotating the shaft part when it is determined that the time interval matches the theoretical cycle.

A screw fastening method includes reversely rotating a shaft part of a fastening tool in a direction of loosening one of an external thread and an internal thread, which is engaged with the shaft part, while one of the external thread in a non-screwed state and the internal thread in a non-screwed state, which is engaged with the shaft part, is pressed against the other thread, detecting collisions between thread ridges of the external thread and the internal thread using a sensor while the shaft part remains rotated reversely, determining whether or not a time interval between collisions detected by the sensor matches a theoretical cycle of collisions calculated from rotation speed of the shaft part, and fastening the external thread and the internal thread to each other by normally rotating the shaft part when it is determined that the time interval matches the theoretical cycle.

A method and a system are provided for predicting and creating a shim for use in a joint where two parts, such as a skin and a substructure, are assembled together. Digital models for the skin and the substructure may be used as nominal maps of the outlines and profiles of the parts. The skin may be inspected, e.g., by nondestructive means, such as ultrasound, to determine as-built thickness profile for comparison to the skin's digital model of the thickness profile. Mating areas of the skin and substructure may be determined from their digital models of their outlines. Deviations in the mating areas of the as-built thickness of the skin from the digital model of the skin may be used to generate a digital model of a shim. The shim may be constructed from its digital model by additive manufacturing techniques that may involving machining or 3D printing.

A welding wire formed of a trace boron titanium base alloy is provided, along with welds formed from the wire and articles comprising one or more of such welds. A method may include forming such a weld or welds from such a welding wire, and may also include non-destructively inspecting titanium alloy articles comprising one or more of such welds using ultrasonic waves to detect internal flaws.

A method and a system are provided for predicting and creating a shim for use in a joint where two parts, such as a skin and a substructure, are assembled together. Digital models for the skin and the substructure may be used as nominal maps of the outlines and profiles of the parts. The skin may be inspected, e.g., by nondestructive means, such as ultrasound, to determine as-built thickness profile for comparison to the skin's digital model of the thickness profile. Mating areas of the skin and substructure may be determined from their digital models of their outlines. Deviations in the mating areas of the as-built thickness of the skin from the digital model of the skin may be used to generate a digital model of a shim. The shim may be constructed from its digital model by additive manufacturing techniques that may involving machining or 3D printing.

A method is provided of non-destructively inspecting titanium alloy articles in the as-cast condition using ultrasonic waves to detect internal flaws, comprising modification of grain structure in the as-solidified ingot structure by the addition of trace boron to various titanium alloys. The ability to ultrasonically inspect as-cast billets combined with improved hot workability provided by trace boron enhancement permits an economical method of manufacture of titanium alloy articles destined for high performance applications.