Utilization of flow field simulations for cathode design in electrochemical machining of aerospace engine blisk channels

Electrochemical machining (ECM) cathode flow field design is crucial to machining aerospace engine blisk channels. In order to reduce the cathode design cycle and cost in machining, 3D cathodes and flow field simulation model were developed to facilitate analysis the flow fields in reversed flow patterns. The electrolyte flow line was determined by the distributions of electrolyte pressure, the diameter of the back orifice, and the areas of the back orifices in locations A, B, and C. The simulation results were utilized to analyze the influence of the electrolyte flow line. To verify the accuracy of the simulation, the experiments were carried out. The simulation results were consistent with the experiment data. It indicates that electrolyte flow field simulation is an effective method to optimize cathode design. Utilizing this methodology can improve the ECM cathode design efficiency and reduce cathode revision time.     

航空发动机复杂扭曲叶片分步电解加工研究

为实现复杂扭曲叶片在较小间隙下的稳定加工,提出了一种分步式电解加工的工艺方法,建立了复杂扭曲叶片小间隙(0.2 mm)和大间隙下(0.5 mm)扭曲流道的流道模型,采用有限元法进行了流场仿真研究,结果表明增加流道间隙可以解决流道中涡流和流场紊乱的问题。开展了复杂扭曲叶片小间隙连续式加工和分步式加工的试验研究。结果表明,采用小间隙连续式加工,当阴极进给至3.8 mm位置时,在叶片排气边靠近叶根流道扭曲处出现短路打火情况;而采用分步式加工方式能够实现加工的顺利进行。     

Optimal design of the sheet cathode using W-shaped electrolyte flow mode in ECM

Electrochemical machining (ECM) is an important non-conventional manufacture technology for machining workpieces with complex and thin structures. In this study, ECM is used to machine the blisk. Because the channel between two blades is narrow, the cathode must use the thin-sheet structure. In the ECM process, the cathode will bear electrolyte pressure which can cause deformation. The cathode deformation has negative influence on the machining quality and process stability. To minimize the deformation, the optimization treatment of the cathode thickness is carried out and a new electrolyte flow mode, W-shaped flow mode, is adopted to weaken the pressure. The corresponding computer simulation is applied, and the results show that the cathode deformation decreases by 17.6% and 28% by taking the above-mentioned two measures. It indicates that the new thin-sheet cathode presented in this paper is useful and the new flow mode is effective in ECM. Furthermore, the experiments are conducted using the optimal thickness electrode and W-shaped flow mode to verify the machining effects. Then the corresponding experiment is carried out, and the result shows that the optimal treatments to reduce the cathode deformation have remarkable effects.     

Optimize the flow field during counter-rotating electrochemical machining of grid structures through an auxiliary internal fluid flow pattern

Flow field distribution plays a vital role in electrochemical machining (ECM) because it can directly affect the machining stability and accuracy of ECM. In counter-rotating electrochemical machining (CRECM), the uniformity of the flow field is difficult to control due to the complicated and changeable flow channel shape. Through the simulation of the conventional lateral fluid flow pattern, it is found that the complexity of the flow channel with grid structures makes the flow field of machining area strongly disordered, which leads to the low velocity zones and dead zones. Based on the simulation results, a new electrolyte flow pattern with an auxiliary internal fluid is proposed, which can remarkably improve the uniformity of flow field by apply supplementary electrolyte to the machining area. Experimental results show that the new flow pattern effectively improves the machining stability of CRECM, and enhances the machining precision of grid structures, the sidewall taper angle is reduced from 29.3° to 7.7°.     

基于COMSOL的电解加工炮管膛线加工间隙的研究

为了缩短阴极研制周期,按照无源导电媒质中的电场建立间隙电场的数学模型,按照气液两相流建立流场的数学模型,根据膛线电解加工工艺参数设置边界条件,采用COMSOL Multiphysics3.4多物理场耦合软件对加工间隙进行数值模拟,结合工艺试验的数据,分析加工间隙电场分布对实际加工精度的影响。结果表明,当阴极工作齿向内收一定角度,有利于减小膛线槽壁倾角和槽底圆角,计算机模拟与工艺试验结果一致。     

旋转超声电解复合加工小孔流场仿真

为解决电解加工深小孔中电解液难以进入加工区和电解产物难以排出的问题,构建了内喷式旋转超声电解复合加工装置,进行了电解加工、旋转电解加工和旋转超声电解复合加工小孔的对比试验。试验结果表明,阴极旋转能明显提高孔的圆度,旋转超声电解复合加工具有最大的平均加工电流,所加工孔的直径、深度都为三者中最大,表明其材料去除率是最大的。在此基础上,利用有限元ANSYS CFX软件,建立了气液两相流三维气穴模型,分析了阴极旋转和阴极高频振动对电解加工流场、电场的影响。仿真结果表明：阴极旋转使得气泡在阴极表面聚集,不利于气泡的排出,阴极振动加速了电解液的运动,有利于气泡的排出,因此具有最大的材料去除率。     

Experiment and simulation study on concentrated magnetic field-assisted ECM S-03 special stainless steel complex cavity

A novel concentrated magnetic field-assisted electrochemical machining (ECM) technology is proposed in this paper to machine contemporaneously seven workplaces’ complex cavity with high efficiency and good precision. An ECM clamping apparatus with concentrated magnetic field, periodic magnetic field, and no magnetic field was designed. The magnetic field simulation was carried out. Comparing the results of the concentrated magnetic field to the periodic magnetic field, the magnetic field intensity of the former is increased by 9.8 % than the latter. The ECM cathode with the same gap was designed and manufactured. Under the conditions of 12 % NaNO₃, 14-V voltage, 0.8-MPa electrolyte pressure, temperature 32 °C, cathode feed rate 0.9 mm/min, initial machining gap 0.1 mm, and the S-03 special stainless steel workpiece material, the experiments with concentrated magnetic field, periodic magnetic field, and no magnetic field were carried out. The results show that the gap magnetic field strength was increased by 16.7 % in the concentrated magnetic field than in the periodic magnetic field. Through a sectioning test, the precision in the concentrated magnetic field is increased by 33.3 % compared with no magnetic circuit and increased by 14.8 % compared with the periodic magnetic field. The concentrated magnetic field-assisted ECM technology cannot only reduce the cathode design cycle and cost but also increase the process accuracy.     

Flow field design and experimental investigation of electrochemical machining on blisk cascade passage

Electrochemical machining (ECM) provides an economical and effective way for machining heat-resistant, high-strength materials into complex shapes that are difficult to machine using conventional methods. It has been applied in several industries, especially aerospace, to manufacture blisk. The electrolyte flow field is a critical factor in ECM process stability and precision. To improve the process stability and the efficiency of blisk cascade passages, ECM with a radial feeding electrode, a rational electrolyte flow mode for electrochemical machining called “Π shape flow mode”, is discussed in the paper. Three flow field models are described separately in this report: traditional lateral flow mode, positive flow mode and Π-shaped flow mode, and the electrolyte velocity and pressure distribution vectors for each flow mode are calculated by means of a finite element fluid analysis method. The simulation results show that the electrolyte flow is more uniform with the Π-shaped flow mode. The deformation of the cathode, which is caused by the pressure difference, is also analysed in this report. The cascade passage ECM with a radial feeding electrode was experimentally tested out to evaluate the rationality of the flow field, and the fluctuation of current during the process was less than 1 %, which means that the process that uses the Π-shaped flow mode is stable. The feeding velocity of the cathode with the Π-shaped flow mode is approximately 70 % higher than that with the other two flow modes, and the incidences of short circuiting are obviously decreased. The surface roughness of the blisk hub is only 0.15 μm, and the machining error of the hub is less than 0.1 mm. The results demonstrate that using the Π-shaped flow mode can enhance the quality, stability and efficiency of blisk cascade passage ECM.     

嵌入磁路的电解加工技术

为提高电解加工精度,基于磁场和电场相互作用原理,设计了两种镶嵌磁路的阴极。分析了磁场对双电层液相3种传质方式的影响,提出将多极内封闭渐变磁路和多极外封闭渐变磁路组合后嵌入电解加工装置的方法。试验表明,沿阴极体周边均匀镶贴永磁体的阴极,加工时磁力线与电解液流动方向正交,可消除分股束流、空穴, 改善电解加工流场,改善工件表面粗糙度;顺阴极轴向在阴极头内嵌入永磁体,加强了反应物质向加工区传质的速度,提高了集中蚀除的能力,可有效减轻杂散腐蚀。对电解套料沿阴极内壁采用多极内封闭渐变磁路镶贴永磁体;对非铁异形孔加工,为进一步加强间隙磁场,可采用在阴极外表面镶嵌多极外封闭渐变磁路,在工件外套一多极内封闭渐变磁路形成组合磁场。     

叶片电化学加工过程多场耦合仿真

针对叶片电化学加工过程难以预测、实验参数修正周期长的问题,建立与温度相关的叶片多场耦合仿真模型,基于COMSOL Multiphysics平台对叶片电化学加工过程进行多场耦合仿真,仿真分析了不同加工电压和不同进液流量对法向平衡间隙的影响。结果表明：加工电压越大,间隙也相应增大,且间隙分布越不均匀;进液流量越大,间隙分布越均匀。采用其中一组仿真参数进行工艺实验,仿真与实验的对比结果表明,叶片轮廓曲率变化缓慢处的仿真结果和实验结果比较贴合,而轮廓曲率变化较快处的仿真值与实验值差别相对较大,但两者的变化趋势相同。     

电解加工工件成形过程仿真与预测系统研究

为提高电解加工自动化程度、更好地研究工件成形过程,在全面研究电解加工成形规律的基础上,结合UG软件平台开发了电解加工计算机辅助工件成形过程仿真与预测的软件系统.介绍系统的基本结构和组成,对加工间隙内实际电场分布进行分析,进而模拟出工件型面的形成过程.通过对某发动机叶片的工艺试验,验证了系统仿真预测的结果,试验结果表明开发的系统具有较高求解精度,对提高电解加工精度、实现电解加工自动化具有重要意义.     

球形阴极数控电解加工的流场仿真及试验研究

针对球形阴极数控电解加工的流场设计,以电解液的流道为物理模型建立了相应的数值模型,应用计算流体力学方法对流场的数值模型进行求解,得到流场的速度和压力分布。根据求解结果,分析了阴极内部结构和出液口形状对流场的影响;通过改进阴极的内部结构和出液口形状,得到了较为理想的流场仿真结果;结合工艺试验,验证了仿真结果的准确性。     

磁场辅助电解加工装置的磁场设计和试验

为改善电解加工间隙流场,针对型面和型孔电解加工,设计在夹具体内镶嵌磁路、在阴极体侧镶贴永磁体的电解加工装置。进行有限元分析和试验,确定型面加工采用内封闭多体渐变磁路的结构。试验结果,用3坐标测量仪对加工的曲面尺寸进行测量,曲面形状偏差小于0.05mm,用轮廓仪测得表面粗糙度为Ra0.2μm。型孔加工采用N、S相间排布的磁路,可有效消除加工后的侧壁流纹,表面粗糙度为Ra0.8μm。与不加磁场相比,复制精度和表面粗糙度均显著提高的原因是磁力线切割流线,洛仑兹力起到消除束流的作用。     

基于多工位的微细长槽电解加工的试验研究

针对如何提高微细长槽批量加工的成型精度和效率问题,将电解加工的技术应用到微细长槽的批量加工中.依据电解加工原理,以微细长槽加工的复制精度为评价指标,建立了微细长槽成型精度的模型分析,得出了影响成型精度的主要因素有：底面间隙、侧面间隙和间隙内流场均匀性,并以此为基础,分别进行了不同加工方式和阴极刀具进给速度的试验.研究结果表明,采用群电极倾斜并沿槽纵向移动的加工方式,以及在保证加工稳定的前提下通过提高阴极刀具的移动速度,可以提高微细长槽的成型精度和加工效率;该方法对于微细长槽的批量加工具有一定的指导意义.     

Cutting tool wear monitoring for reliability analysis using proportional hazards model

Electrochemical machining (ECM) is an important technology in machining difficult-to-cut materials and to shape free-form surfaces. In ECM, material is removed by electrochemical dissolution process, so part is machined without inducing residual stress and without tool wear. To improve technological factors in electrochemical machining, introduction of electrode tool ultrasonic vibration is justifiable. This method is called as ultrasonically assisted electrochemical machining (USAECM). In the first part of the paper, the analysis of electrolyte flow through the gap during USAECM has been presented. Based on computational fluid dynamic methods, multiphase, turbulent and unsteady electrolyte flow between anode and cathode (under assumption that cavitation phenomenon occurs) has been analysed. Discussion of the obtained solutions is the base to define optimal conditions of electrolyte flow in case of USAECM process. The second part of the paper is connected with experimental investigations of USAECM process. Classic experimental verification of obtained results in case of machining is extremely difficult, but influence of the ultrasonic vibration can be observed indirectly by changes in technological factors (in comparison to machining without ultrasonic intensification), whereas results of numerical simulation give possibility to understand reason and direction of technological factors changes. Investigations proved that ultrasonic vibrations change conditions of electrochemical dissolution and for optimal amplitude of vibration gives possibility to decrease the electrode polarisation.     

双缘板叶片电解加工流场优化与试验研究

针对在长叶身的双缘板叶片电解加工中由于流场的不均匀经常导致加工短路的问题,开展了叶片电解加工流场优化仿真分析,结果表明大量电解液从两侧缘板区域的间隙中被分流,造成叶身型面部分流量减小,导致产物不能及时排出间隙,容易引起加工短路。为了改善加工区域流场分布不均的情况,提出了一种基于液体密封的多向辅助供液流场方式,对提出的流场方式开展流场仿真分析,仿真结果表明加工区流场稳定性与一致性显著提升。开展了所提出流场的电解加工工艺试验,加工过程电流稳定,试件具有较好的加工效果,验证了提出流场方式的有效性。     

Investigation into the blade-formation process in electrochemical trepanning of diffusers

Abstract

Electrochemical trepanning process is an advanced manufacturing technology suitable for the machining of aero-engine components such as blades and diffusers. Tool-electrode (cathode) with special electrical isolation is adopted in the experimental investigations of this article using the electrochemical trepanning to produce a flow mode in which the electrolyte is supplied evenly to the blade being machined. The material removal model for these experiments is built based on the main technical principles of the ECM. For a better understanding of the electrochemical trepanning process during the machining of a blade, computer simulations were previously conducted aiming to observe the geometric shaping of the inter-electrode gap. The shaping process dynamic was analyzed and the distribution of electrical field intensity within the gap has been obtained under different feed rates of the tool-electrode relative to the blade. The profile of the cross-section of the blade was evaluated through the simulation, thus indicating that the blade’s taper angler decrease by increasing the feed rate. Also, practical experiments have been carried out, where the corresponding experimental results proved the simulation was effective. The best taper angle (0.70°) resulted from a machining condition in setting up a feed rate of 4?mm/min, whereas 3.72° was produced using 1?mm/min. Furthermore, a sector with multiple blades was electrochemically manufactured with the optimal set up of experimental parameters, being that the machining accuracy was about 0.12?mm. The application reflected that the method proposed in this article is appropriate and can be used for other complex structures in electrochemical trepanning.     

基于有限元数值方法的电解加工工件型面的预测

采用有限元数值算法求解加工间隙中的电场分布，考虑间隙内流场和非线性电解液的影响，对最终的阳极工件型面进行预测。对某型发动机叶片三维复杂曲面进行了预测计算，并与其工艺试验结果进行比较，证明预测模型具有较高的精度。     

A simplified mathematical model development for the design of free-form cathode surface in electrochemical machining

High-performance machining of free-form surfaces is highly critical in automotive, aerospace, and die–mold manufacturing industries. Therefore, electrochemical machining (ECM) process has been used in such cases in that sense. The most important challenges of using ECM process are the lack of accuracy and difficulty in designing proper machining tool (cathode) surfaces. In this article, a simplified mathematical model is presented to obtain a cathode surface for ECM of free-form surfaces which have high curvatures. In this theoretical approach, the finite-element method (FEM) is used to solve the 3-D Laplace equation and to determine the potential distribution between the anode (workpiece) and cathode (tool) surfaces. A compact and simple program was developed to obtain a proper cathode surface that only requires some nodal coordinates on the anode surface and boundary conditions. In this work, a trial cathode surface is constructed for a given gap distance. For the determined ECM parameters, cathode shape that satisfies the boundary conditions is obtained for the 45^th layer. The results are compared with the literature and ANSYS Workbench for verification. The developed theoretical approach benefits simpler and faster FEM solutions, accurate cathode surface, and consequently correct form of machined surface.     

渐开线内花键电解加工流场设计及工艺稳定性研究

为进一步提高渐开线内花键电解加工的工艺稳定性,基于数值分析方法探讨了电解液流动方式、工具阴极结构、电解液参数对流场分布的影响规律。数值分析结果表明：电解液侧向流动可以改善加工区入口处电解液流速分布均匀性;带有导流段的变截面阴极能够降低工件表面流速波动。针对工艺稳定性及加工定域性,开展了渐开线内花键电解加工试验研究。试验结果表明：进给速度可达2.1 mm/min以上,齿形误差可控制在0.015 mm以内,当加工深度为30 mm时,齿向误差在0.02 mm以内。该加工方式的效率及精度能够满足很多实际需求,具有明显的技术经济优势。