SEMI-AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR POLISHING PIECES HAVING COMPLEX CURVED-SHAPED SURFACES AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME.

摘要

Described is a semi-automatic machine for polishing pieces having complex curved-shaped surfaces and method for operating the same, which is a complex equipment designed to polish pieces having a complex geometry such as turbine vanes. Said machine is based on two types of operations: a manual operation for polishing pieces having complex curved-shaped surfaces where a piece is held and the surface to be polished pressed against an abrasive band in continuous motion, and a semi-automatic operation which provides two additional axis to two manually operated axis, which may be automatically, or semi-automatically operated provided that the piece geometry is irregular due to design changes or variations in the material thickness; the operation of the additional axis may be semi-automatic so that the operator may control the movement, and the spin change according to the provided piece geometry. The inventive machine is characterised in that it is reconfigurable, i.e., besides being useful for different vane sizes by performing simple setting changes, the machine also has the capability of including additional components such as sensors, etc., for performing additional functions.