Five-axis machining makes it possible to manufacture complex blade geometry by continuously coordinating the position and orientation of the cutting tool relative to the part. That capability,...
Imagine you're finishing an impeller blade with a ball end mill. The drawing calls for a specific surface finish, but now you need to determine the toolpath parameters that will achieve it. Should...
Most programmers have worked with a toolpath that looks reasonable at first but becomes increasingly difficult to manage as programming progresses. Besides being a hassle to deal with, unnecessarily...
Even programmers with years of turbomachinery experience run into toolpath problems. Not because they lack the knowledge, but because the complexity of these components makes certain issues genuinely...
Most of the challenge in turbomachinery manufacturing doesn’t come from a single limitation; it comes from many small ones adding up.
Design engineers are always looking for ways to push performance and efficiency. This can produce geometry which is challenging to machine and one of the first questions the manufacturing team needs...
As engineers planning and designing with CAD/CAM tools,we are developing processes in a theoretical world. It isn’t until you put on your boots, get in front of the machine, and start lettingchips fly
Turbopumps pose many challenges when trying to manufacture high quality CNC toolpaths. They are often made of difficult to machine materials such as Inconel, have sharp leading edges, demanding...
Mixed flow impellers can be challenging, often requiring multiple set-ups due to the ~45° exit angle. Check out how we utilized multiple MAX-PAC cutting strategies in this collaboration with GROB and...
Dave Schowalter, Director of Global Software Sales, introduces you to Claudio Raia, our newest team member and the Managing Director of Concepts NREC Europe. Welcome Claudio!
What is 5 axis machining? In short, it is manufacturing a component on a CNC milling machine that can travel in 5 different directions. These machines allow the cutting tool to reach around parts...
The global health crisis has presented business and industry with uncertainties we could not have anticipated. Here at Concepts NREC, we've worked hard to adapt for the health and safety of our...
As discussed in my previous blog post, Flank Milling, How Hard Can it Be?, turbomachinery blades are commonly designed as ruled surfaces, with the goal of making manufacturing easier and faster with...
When designing compressors, engineers often use ruled-surface blades with the goal of making a shape that’s easily manufactured on a 5-axis machine. Theses blades can be quickly machined in one pass...
Have you ever needed to know the exact geometry of a compressor that has been running for years in your process plant? Perhaps you need to analyze how it would perform if the process fluid had to be...
Gifts for Engineers can usually be segmented into a few categories: Things you have to put together, science fiction, gaming, new technology, and witty phrases printed on stuff. A Google search of...
Computer-Aided Manufacturing software for turbomachinery generally uses 5-axis milling with some form of collision checking. It is a prerequisite given the expense of the machines, tools and parts...
The guiding principle behind Concepts NREC’s Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software, MAX-PAC, is to simplify the task of creating efficient milling toolpaths for turbomachinery. Since we are...
Concepts NREC just had its most successful year ever in software sales. Why? It really comes down to two things, the first is our team, we have some incredibly talented people developing our software...
Wouldn’t it be ironic if the profession that is creating all the robots was eventually replaced by them? It could happen. Engineering is all about applying laws, measurements, facts, and analysis to...
A common struggle for mechanical engineers using Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools is the time-consuming process of moving geometry between the CAE system and Computer Aided Design (CAD)...
One of the most important design choices facing a chiller compressor designer is whether to utilize open or shrouded impellers. The impacts of this verdict are wide ranging, which arguably makes this...
Some of my other blogs have touched on how important it is to consider manufacturing methods during the design phase. This one will show exactly how manufacturing methods impact performance. We will...
The primary options for laying out an impeller (i.e. flank milled versus point milled, open versus covered impellers, integral versus welded shrouds) determine the basic manufacturing process (see ...
There are two dominant manufacturing methods used to produce turbomachinery parts – Casting and 5-axis machining. This blog will explore some of the applications and restrictions of these two methods.