Production of High Precision Complex Geometries
using Next Generation Processes and Materials
Thomas R. Kurfess
Associate Professor
The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
New high performance systems require the machining of highly complex
components that are comprised of advanced materials. The production of
such
parts requires significant advances in both machining systems as well as
inspection systems. To accomplish this task advances in three main areas
(process modeling, process control and sensor feedback) are required.
This
seminar presents results in these individual areas as well as their
integration into a system that will permit manufacturing systems to make
the technological leap necessary to produce new advanced designs that
incorporate new high performance materials.
In particular, this seminar will present current work on high precision
bearing grinding manufacture that employs real-time process modeling,
adaptive force and power controlled grinding, and high precision
metrology
used as process feedback. The novel approach to this work is that it
directly applies control to the grinding process, rather than the
machine
tool. The machine tool is considered the actuator that is used to
regulate
or servo the process, rather than the system to be controlled. Advances
in
both hardware and software are discussed for the feedback system.
State-of-the-art developments in coordinate metrology are used to
determine
the geometry of the components.
The presentation extends the use of these new developments from
precision
bearing production to two other areas of interest: rapid prototyping and
machining of inter-metallic compounds used for advanced applications
such
as air foils for the next generation of high performance jet engines. In
particular, advances in metrology will be presented relating to
validation
of the complex geometries used in airfoil designs, and modeling.
Furthermore, modeling and control techniques related to the control of
subsurface damage in such parts will be discussed.