Minimization of deflection error in five axis milling of impeller blades

The 5-axis CNC machine tools are used for manufacturing free form surfaces of sophisticated parts such as turbine blades, airfoils, impellers, and aircraft components. The virtual machining systems can be used in order to analyze and modify the 5-axis CNC machine tools operations. Cutting forces and cutting temperatures induce deflection errors in thin-walled structures such as impeller blades through machining operations. Thin-walled impeller blades' flexibility can result in machining errors such as overcutting or undercutting. So, decreasing the deflection error during machining operations of impeller blades can achieve the desired accuracy in produced parts. Optimized machining parameters can be obtained to minimize the deflection of machined impeller blades. In terms of precision and efficiency enhancement in component production processes, a virtual machining system is developed to predict and minimize deflection errors of 5-axis milling operations of impeller blades. The deflection error in machined impeller blades is calculated by using finite element analysis. The optimization methodology based on the genetic algorithm is applied to minimize the deflection error of impeller blades in machining operations. To validate the integrated virtual machining system in the study, the impeller is milled by using a 5-axis CNC machine tool. The CMM machine is used in order to measure and analyze deflection error in the machined impeller blades. As a result, by using the developed virtual machining system in the study, accuracy and efficiency in 5-axis milling operations of impellers can be increased.