METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ELECTROCHEMICALLY TREATING COMPONENTS

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for electrochemically treating a component, comprising at least one electrode which has at least one working surface with an outer contour that is shaped so as complement the surface of the component to be produced, thereby forming a gap, and comprising at least one contour surface which adjoins said working surface and in which at least one cleaning opening is arranged, a cleaning fluid flowing through said cleaning opening. According to the method, at least one component is provided, a voltage is applied between the component and the at least one electrode during the electrochemical treatment, and the electrode is moved relative to the component.

Claims

1. A method for electrochemically treating a component, comprising at least one electrode, which has at least one working surface with an outer contour that is shaped to complement the surface of the component to be produced, thereby forming a gap, and comprising at least one contour surface that adjoins said working surface, and in which at least one cleaning opening PO through which a cleaning fluid can flow is arranged, comprising the method steps of: providing the component; applying a voltage between the component and the at least one electrode during the electrochemical treatment of the component; moving the electrode PO relative to the component; and feeding of a cleaning fluid under pressure through the at least one cleaning opening for the removal of adhesions, in the form of nonconductive process residues, from the treated surface of the component.

2. The method treating a component according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: recording at least one parameter of the treated surface of the component.

3. The method for treating a component according to claim 1, wherein the pressure and/or the flow rate of the cleaning fluid flowing through the at least one cleaning opening can be adjusted.

4. The method for treating a component according to claim 1, wherein, when the cleaning fluid flows through the cleaning opening, it is accelerated.

5. A device for electrochemically treating a component, by the method according to claim 1, comprising at least one electrode, which has at least one working surface with an outer contour that is shaped to complement the surface of the component to be produced, thereby forming a gap, wherein a contour surface that adjoins the outer contour of the working surface, and in which at least one cleaning opening through which a cleaning fluid can flow is arranged.

6. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 5, wherein the contour surface has a plurality of cleaning openings through which a cleaning fluid can flow.

7. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 5, wherein the at least one cleaning opening is configured and arranged so that a cleaning fluid flowing through it is accelerated.

8. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 5, wherein the electrode has at least one flow channel, through which the cleaning fluid can be fed to the at least one cleaning opening.

9. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning fluid is an electrolyte or another suitable fluid.

10. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 5, wherein the feeding of the cleaning fluid occurs via a separate supply circuit.

11. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 5, wherein the electrode is configured and arranged in at least two parts, wherein the working surface is arranged on at least one first part and at least one section of the contour surface is arranged on at least one second part.

12. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 11, wherein the at least one second part configured and arranged as an electrically nonconductive material.

13. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 5, wherein the electrode is produced at least in part by an additive manufacturing method.

14. The device for electrochemically treating a component according to claim 5, further comprising a control device, which is configured and arranged to adjust the pressure and/or the flow rate of the cleaning fluid through the at least one cleaning opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0030] Further features, advantages, and possible applications of the invention ensue from the following description in association with the figures. Shown are:

[0031] FIG. 1: a schematic three-dimensional illustration of an exemplary device according to the invention for electrochemically treating a component;

[0032] FIG. 2: a schematic illustration of another exemplary device according to the invention for electrochemically treating a component in a sectional illustration; and

[0033] FIG. 3: a schematic illustration of a flow chart of the method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic three-dimensional illustration of an exemplary device 10 according to the invention for electrochemically treating a component 12 (illustrated transparently), which, in the exemplary embodiment, is designed as a rotor blade of a turbomachine. The device 10 has an electrode 20, the direction of movement of which, 25, is indicated by an arrow. The working surface 21 of the electrode 20, which, in the exemplary embodiment, is provided for producing a fir tree profile groove, lies above the plane of the section in the illustration in FIG. 1 and is therefore not shown.

[0035] Shown in FIG. 1 is a section of the contour surface 24 that adjoins the outer contour 22 (lying above the plane of section) of the working surface 21 of the electrode 20 and in which a plurality of cleaning openings 26 through which a cleaning fluid can flow are arranged. The contour surface 24 is shaped so as to complement the treated surface 16 of the component 12, thereby forming a gap 14. As the cleaning fluid that is fed through the at least one cleaning opening 26 flows through the cleaning opening 26, it forms a cleaning fluid jet 27 (shown in FIG. 2), which is directed at the treated surface 16 and by which adhesions, such as, in particular, oxide residues, can be detached from the treated surface 16. For feeding of the cleaning fluid to the cleaning openings 26, a plurality of flow channels 28 are arranged in the electrode 20, through which the cleaning fluid can be fed to the respective cleaning openings 26.

[0036] The second part 2 of the exemplary electrode 20 shown in FIG. 1 is produced from, in particular, an electrically nonconductive material, such as, for example, a nonferrous metal or a plastic. Thus, it is possible to avoid a further electrochemical treatment of the component 12 in the region of the second part of the electrode 20. The electrode 20 can be produced at least in part by an additive manufacturing method, as a result of which complex outer and inner designs of, for example, the cleaning openings 26 or the flow channels 28 for the feeding of the cleaning fluid can be produced. Furthermore, the device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a control device 30, which, in particular, makes it possible to adjust the pressure and/or the flow rate of the cleaning fluid through the at least one cleaning opening 26.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of another exemplary device 10 according to the invention for electrochemically treating a component 12. The device has at least one electrode 20 with a working surface 21. The working surface 21 has an outer contour 22, which is shaped so as to complement the surface 16 of the component 12 that is to be produced and then treated, thereby forming a gap 14. Adjoining the outer contour 22 of the working surface 21 of the electrode 20 is a contour surface 24, in which at least one cleaning opening 26 through which a cleaning fluid can flow is arranged. In FIG. 2, for example, two rows and thus a plurality of cleaning openings 26 are illustrated. The number and arrangement of the cleaning openings 26 depend, in particular, on the treatment parameters and on the desired cleaning result. Also illustrated in FIG. 2 by way of an arrow is the direction of movement 25 of the electrode 20 as well as, by two arrows arranged in the gap 14, the flow direction of the electrolyte required for electrochemically treating the component 12.

[0038] The cleaning fluid fed through the at least one cleaning opening 26 is usually pressurized and/or the at least one cleaning opening 26 is designed in such a way that the cleaning fluid is accelerated when it flows through the cleaning opening 26. A flow through the cleaning opening 26 results in the creation of a fluid jet 27 that is directed at the treated surface 16 and by which adhesions, such as, in particular, process residues, can be detached from the treated surface 16. For feeding of the cleaning fluid to the at least one cleaning opening 26, at least one flow channel (not illustrated in FIG. 2) is arranged in the electrode, through which the cleaning fluid can be fed to the respective cleaning opening 26.

[0039] The exemplary electrode illustrated in FIG. 2 is designed in two parts. In this case, the working surface 21 is arranged on a first part 1. In the illustrated exemplary electrode 20, the contour surface 24 that adjoins the outer contour 22 of the working surface 21 is arranged by section on the first part 1 and on the second part 2 of the electrode 20, with the cleaning openings 26 in the exemplary embodiment being arranged only in the region of the section of the contour surface 24 that is arranged on the second part 2 of the electrode 20. The electrode 20 can be produced in this case at least in part by an additive manufacturing method, as a result of which the production of complex electrode geometries and/or specific shapes of nozzle-like cleaning openings 26 is (are) simplified.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a flow chart of the method according to the invention for electrochemically treating a component 12, comprising at least one electrode 20. In this case, the electrode 20 has at least one working surface 21 with an outer contour 22, which is shaped with the formation of a gap 14 so as to complement the surface 16 of the component 12 to be produced. Furthermore, the electrode 20 has at least one contour surface 24 that adjoins said working surface and in which at least one cleaning opening through which a cleaning fluid can flow 26 is arranged.

[0041] The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: In a first step a), the component 12 is provided. In the second step b), during the electrochemical treatment of the component 12, a voltage is applied between the component 12 and the at least one electrode 20. Subsequently, in the third step c), the electrode 20 is moved with respect to the component 12 and in this way, in particular, the intended treatment and/or the cleaning of the produced surface is or are carried out. In the step d), a pressurized cleaning fluid is fed through the at least one cleaning opening 26 in order to remove, by way of the cleaning fluid jet 27 that is thereby formed, adhesions, in particular nonconductive process residues, from the treated surface 16 of the component 12. In an optional further step e), at least one parameter of the treated surface 16 of the component 12 is recorded in order to carry out, for example, a quality control and/or in order to adjust the treatment parameters.