Blasting Erosion Arc Machining of Turbine Blisk Flow Channel with Laminated Electrode

This paper presents a new process for machining the flow channels of wide gap shrouded blisk. It utilizes the blasting erosion arc machining (BEAM) process with laminated electrode which contains a number of curved flushing holes. The laminated electrode is an integration of several layers (slices) of electrode plates. As a strong inner flushing in the gap is the prerequisite for the hydrodynamic arc breaking mechanism for BEAM, curved flow slots are machined on each electrode plate surface to enable the working fluid to flow through and perform a strong inner flushing. Machining experiment with laminated electrode was carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of this novel machining technology. By optimizing the contour profile of the laminated electrode, the geometry of the inner slots as well as the feeding path, a stable and continuous electro-arcing process of BEAM was achieved and a blisk channel was machined efficiently.