Automated and Flexible Clamping of Turbine Blades
for the Measurement Process

Challenge: Variability and Complexity of Geometries

Turbine blades, whether for aviation or gas turbines, are manufactured in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This high variability presents a particular challenge, as the blades need to be repeatedly fixed during the manufacturing and inspection process. Due to their highly complex geometries, conventional clamping tools are often insufficient, resulting in high costs for the development and production of specific clamping fixtures.

In our specific customer application, various types of blades need to be picked by a robot from a fixture and then fed into a measurement cell, where they must be securely fixed for the automated measurement process.

Solution: The Flex-Clamp System by MATRIX®

The Flex-Clamp System by MATRIX® offers an innovative solution to this challenge. This adaptive clamping system can be mounted as an end effector on robot grippers or used as a flexible support. It consists of a multitude of spring-loaded MATRIX pins that immediately adapt to any workpiece geometry when the gripper is closed. After adapting, the pins are pneumatically locked to maintain the negative shape of the workpiece and apply gripping force.

A special feature of the Flex-Clamp System is the pressureless locking, which ensures secure fixation of the workpieces even in the event of a pneumatic system failure. Turbine blades of various kinds can be safely gripped or fixed with just one adaptable gripping system without causing damage—whether at the blade or the fir tree profile.

Advantages and Conclusion

The Flex-Clamp System by MATRIX® revolutionizes the handling of changing and complex parts by eliminating production stoppages for gripper changes. The need for the production and storage of specific gripper jaws is eliminated, saving significant costs. Additionally, the high flexibility allows for the complete replacement of gripper stations.

Summary

The Flex-Clamp System significantly facilitates the automated and flexible clamping of turbine blades in the measurement process. It enables the safe and efficient handling of various types of blades without the need for specific clamping fixtures to be developed and stored. This innovation represents a significant advancement in manufacturing and inspection technology, offering companies the opportunity to optimize their processes and reduce costs.