Abrasive flow machining uses flexible abrasive media that follows complicated internal geometry, making it useful for polishing, deburring, edge radiusing, recast removal, and flow-path modification.
The process has been associated with aerospace from its beginning, when it was developed for critical aircraft hydraulic and fuel components.
Common Aerospace AFM Services
Extrude Hone AFM can evaluate applications involving:- Airfoils
- Turbine and compressor parts
- Blades and vanes
- Hydraulic bodies
- Fuel spray nozzles
- Fuel-control bodies
- Combustion liners
- Bearings
- Nozzles and diffusers
- Hubs, disks, and shafts
AFM can also remove laser and EDM recast from appropriate aerospace surfaces.
Aerospace Manufacturing in the Carolinas
Charlotte and the broader Carolinas manufacturing corridor support aerospace, aviation, automotive, energy, and precision machining.
Aerospace suppliers in the region may produce parts with internal passages, complex airfoils, and high-performance flow surfaces.
These features can be difficult to finish using rigid tools.
AFM allows the abrasive media to conform to the component instead.
Edge Radiusing and Mechanical Performance
Holes and attachment features on blades, shafts, hubs, and disks may require carefully controlled edges.
Extrude Hone AFM uses AFM to produce polished true-radius edges on suitable aerospace features.The company's aerospace guidance identifies this type of edge finishing as beneficial for mechanical fatigue strength in these components.
Fuel, Air, and Hydraulic Flow
AFM is also useful for components where internal flow characteristics matter.
Multiple nozzle holes can sometimes be processed simultaneously to bring their flow capability into closer agreement.
Hydraulic bodies with intersecting passages can be deburred and radiused using controlled media flow through the target intersections.
Aerospace Surface Rework
Certain used aerospace components can also benefit from AFM rework.
Extrude Hone AFM identifies applications involving coke and carbon deposit removal, surface-integrity improvement, and enhancement of eddy-current readings.This expands AFM beyond new-component finishing.
Engineering the Process
Tooling, media flow pressure, viscosity, abrasive concentration, abrasive size, passage dimensions, material, and starting surface all influence how AFM performs.
Extrude Hone AFM develops these variables for each specific aerospace application.Call (562) 531-2976 to discuss aerospace AFM for Charlotte, NC.
FAQs
Can AFM finish turbine components?
Yes. Compressor, turbine, blade, and airfoil finishing are established aerospace AFM applications.
Can AFM remove carbon deposits from aerospace parts?
Certain aerospace rework applications can include removal of coke and carbon deposits.
