Starrag USA Unveils New Turbine Blade Machining Center in KY Lab

Starrag USA installed its new LX021 turbine blade machine into its Hebron, KY, development center to bolster support of its aerospace and energy customers. The application-based design of the LX021 maximizes part rigidity with its spindle and sub-spindle part clamping. The turret on the sub-spindle allows multiple work holding strategies to be used to fully machine blades in one setup.

The LX021 offers a comprehensive integrated solution that includes:
• Self-centering vice that minimizes part distortion while maintaining accuracy and repeatability.
• Kinematic correction cycles to calibrate the machine and verify its health over time.
• Advanced RCS CAM software designed specifically to generate optimize CNC tool paths.
• RCS blade inspection precisely measures blades and compensates for forging variations to increase first-time yield.
• A 10-pallet storage system with a spindle-loaded part gripper to automate part set up for continuous operation.

Starrag's full-solution strategy includes incorporating Blum-Novotest Inc. probing technology for precise in-process part measuring, tool setting, and surface roughness verification.

The surface roughness gage is programmed with five-axis motion directly in the RCS CAM software. Roughness measurements can be made on surfaces as low as 16μin Ra. After in-processes measuring, the data is saved ready for SPC quality monitoring.

Starrag is also partnering with HAIMER, a leading precision tool holding manufacturer, to include their heat shrink holders and Power Clamp Special Addition heat shrink unit in the lab. Haimer's high-precision holders feature:
• Max runout of 3μm at 3XD
• 360° clamping contact
• Precision balanced to G25@25000 RPM
• Simple and repeatable tool assembly

The Power Clamp Special Addition heat shrink unit features a compact easy-to-use portable design that is perfectly equipped for handling smaller diameter tools.

"Our long-term customer partnerships are very important to us," explains Udo Herbes, managing director of Starrag. "Even after we deliver a solution, we continue to work with our customer so we can continue to engineer precisely what they value."

For more information, visit www.starrag.com.

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