GB2469642A - Test gauge and method - Google Patents
Test gauge and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2469642A GB2469642A GB0906794A GB0906794A GB2469642A GB 2469642 A GB2469642 A GB 2469642A GB 0906794 A GB0906794 A GB 0906794A GB 0906794 A GB0906794 A GB 0906794A GB 2469642 A GB2469642 A GB 2469642A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- test
- thickness
- piece
- weld
- work
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 53
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 17
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000010998 test method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000010894 electron beam technology Methods 0.000 claims 2
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001069 Ti alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003278 mimic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011179 visual inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K15/00—Electron-beam welding or cutting
- B23K15/0006—Electron-beam welding or cutting specially adapted for particular articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K31/00—Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by only one of the preceding main groups
- B23K31/12—Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by only one of the preceding main groups relating to investigating the properties, e.g. the weldability, of materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K15/00—Electron-beam welding or cutting
- B23K15/0026—Auxiliary equipment
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K31/00—Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by only one of the preceding main groups
- B23K31/12—Processes relevant to this subclass, specially adapted for particular articles or purposes, but not covered by only one of the preceding main groups relating to investigating the properties, e.g. the weldability, of materials
- B23K31/125—Weld quality monitoring
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K2101/00—Articles made by soldering, welding or cutting
- B23K2101/001—Turbines
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Quality & Reliability (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
Abstract
A method of testing a welding operation prior to performing the welding operation on a work piece comprises performing a test-weld on a test gauge (10) including a first portion (10a) having a first thickness and a second portion (10b) having a second thickness not equal to the first thickness, wherein the thickness of the first portion is substantially equal to a maximum desired weld penetration depth, and the thickness of the second portion is substantially equal to a minimum desired weld penetration depth. The maximum and minimum desired weld penetration depths are determined in accordance with at least one characteristic of the work-piece. A test weld is performed on the first portion of the test gauge and a test weld is performed on the second portion of the test gauge and if the test weld does not penetrate the full thickness of the first portion, and does penetrate the full thickness of the second portion, a determination is made that the weld penetration depth is suitable for the welding operation to be performed on the work-piece.
Description
TEST GAUGE AND METHOD
The present invention relates to a test gauge and to a method of testing, and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with a test gauge for use in testing the depth of a welding operation in an aerospace component manufacture process, and to a method therefor.
In gas turbine engines a Titanium-alloy wide chord fan blade is typically manufactured using diffusion bonding (DB) and super plastic forming (SPF) techniques. This requires that the blade has a hole at its tip and a slot in its interior for receiving a pipe through which Argon gas can be injected to inflate the blade during the SPF process.
The hole and slot must subsequently be sealed by an electron-beam-welding operation.
The path and depth of the weld are controlled to predetermined tolerances which include penetration of the weld into the blade to minimum and maximum depths.
If the weld were to penetrate too deeply the weld would "drop through" the blade and undesirable sinkage would occur at an upper surface of the blade. If the weld did not penetrate sufficiently deeply then the weld itself may be ineffective at sealing the slot.
Tolerances are of the order of millimetres and due to the limitations in the performance of the welding apparatus it cannot simply be assumed that repeatable accurate welds will be achieved.
However, there are no currently known methods for inspecting the interior of the blade to ensure that the critical tolerances described above have been adhered to in any given case, once the inflation slot had been sealed.
Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide apparatus and a method which allows a determination of the effectiveness of the weld in the process outlined above.
The present invention is defined in the attached independent claims to which reference should now be made. Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claims appended thereto.
According to the invention there is provided a method of testing a welding operation prior to performing the welding operation on a work-piece, the method comprising: performing a test-weld on a test gauge including a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness not equal to the first thickness, wherein the thickness of the first portion is substantially equal to a maximum desired weld penetration depth, and the thickness of the second portion is substantially equal to a minimum desired weld penetration depth, and wherein the maximum and minimum desired weld penetration depths are determined in accordance with at least one characteristic of the work-piece; wherein a test weld is performed on the first portion of the test gauge and a test weld is performed on the second portion of the test gauge; and wherein, if the test weld does not penetrate the full thickness of the first portion, and does penetrate the full thickness of the second portion, a determination is made that the weld penetration depth is suitable for the welding operation to be performed on the work-piece.
The method may comprise performing the test weld on a test gauge which is integrally associated with a work-piece assembly.
Preferably the method comprises performing the test weld on a test gauge which is integrally formed with the work-piece in a region of the work-piece which is designed to be discarded during a subsequent stage of manufacturing of the work-piece.
The invention also includes a test gauge for testing a welding operation prior to performing the welding operation on a work-piece, the test gauge comprising: a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness not equal to the first thickness; wherein the thickness of the first portion is substantially equal to a maximum desired weld penetration depth, and the thickness of the second portion is substantially equal to a minimum desired weld penetration depth; and wherein the maximum and minimum desired weld penetration depths are determined in accordance with at least one characteristic of a work-piece.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a weld test-piece according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 depicts schematically a weld penetration of the test piece of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a support assembly together with a component and test piece according to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention incorporated into a component.
Turning to Figure 1, this shows at 10 a generally block-like weld-test-piece of Titanium, having a step-shaped profile comprising a first portion lOa and a second portion lOb, the first portion being thicker than the second portion. The test piece, or gauge, 10 is in use integrated into a titanium component assembly alongside a component, or work-piece, to be electron-beam-welded. In Figure 1 the gauge 10 is isolated for clarity.
Figure 2 shows in schematic cross-section the test-piece 10. Prior to electron-beam-welding of a component such as a fan blade, the test-piece lOis subjected to a test weld. The test-piece 10 is dimensioned so as to mimic the tolerances which will govern the welding of the component itself. The tolerances may be influenced by the dimensions, in particular thickness, and/or structure of the component.
In particular, the first portion lOa is of a thickness slightly greater than or substantially equal to the maximum necessary penetration depth of the weld, and the second portion 1 Ob is of a thickness slightly less than or substantially equal to the minimum required penetration depth of the weld. In a typical example the difference in thickness of the two portions 1 Oa and 1 Ob is 1 mm, which reflects the tolerance to be applied to the welding operation on the component.
When the test weld is performed on the test-piece 10 it must not penetrate the lower surface of the first portion 1 Oa at point A, and it must penetrate the lower surface of the second portion lOb at point B. After the test weld is completed, a visual inspection of the test piece can quickly determine whether the weld has been performed within the necessary tolerances. If the test weld has been performed successfully then the process can move on to the electron-beam-welding of the component itself.
Figure 3 shows a support assembly 12 with a test-piece 10 and a component 14. The component is a fan blade, the tip 14a of which is to be electron-beam-welded from a top surface.
Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the test-piece 10 which has the same basic shape as the example of Figures 1-3 but is, in this case, integrated into the component 14 at a region which will be discarded as waste at a subsequent stage of manufacture of the component.
The examples described above and depicted in the drawings are of test pieces having two distinct portions of different thickness which form a single step. However, the test piece may incorporate more than one step, ie more than two portions of different thickness, where the weld operation requires adherence to different tolerances or machine parameters.
Claims (6)
- CLAIMSA method of testing a welding operation prior to performing the welding operation on a work-piece, the method comprising: performing a test-weld on a test gauge including a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness not equal to the first thickness, wherein the thickness of the first portion is substantially equal to a maximum desired weld penetration depth, and the thickness of the second portion is substantially equal to a minimum desired weld penetration depth, and wherein the maximum and minimum desired weld penetration depths are determined in accordance with at least one characteristic of the work-piece; wherein a test weld is performed on the first portion of the test gauge and a test weld is performed on the second portion of the test gauge; and wherein, if the test weld does not penetrate the full thickness of the first portion, and does penetrate the full thickness of the second portion, a determination is made that the weld penetration depth is suitable for the welding operation to be performed on the work-piece.
- 2 A method according to Claim 1, comprising performing the test weld on a test gauge which is integrally associated with a work-piece assembly.
- 3 A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising performing the test weld on a test gauge which is integrally formed with the work-piece in a region of the work-piece which is designed to be discarded during a subsequent stage of manufacturing of the work-piece.
- 4 A method according to any of Claims 1 to 3 comprising a method of testing an electron-beam welding operation.
- A test gauge for testing a welding operation prior to performing the welding operation on a work-piece, the test gauge comprising: a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness not equal to the first thickness; wherein the thickness of the first portion is substantially equal to a maximum desired weld penetration depth, and the thickness of the second portion is substantially equal to a minimum desired weld penetration depth; and wherein the maximum and minimum desired weld penetration depths are determined in accordance with at least one characteristic of a work-piece.
- 6 A test gauge according to Claim 1, wherein the test gauge is integral with a 7 A test piece according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the test gauge is integrally formed with a work-piece in a region of the work-piece which is designed to be discarded during a subsequent stage of manufacturing of the work-piece.8 A test gauge according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the test gauge is arranged to be subjected to an electron-beam welding operation.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0906794A GB2469642A (en) | 2009-04-21 | 2009-04-21 | Test gauge and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0906794A GB2469642A (en) | 2009-04-21 | 2009-04-21 | Test gauge and method |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0906794D0 GB0906794D0 (en) | 2009-06-03 |
| GB2469642A true GB2469642A (en) | 2010-10-27 |
Family
ID=40774691
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0906794A Withdrawn GB2469642A (en) | 2009-04-21 | 2009-04-21 | Test gauge and method |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2469642A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN113619140A (en) * | 2021-07-26 | 2021-11-09 | 东风延锋汽车饰件系统有限公司 | Vibration friction welding is exempted from to break and is torn open degree of depth and detect structure |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU776814A1 (en) * | 1978-08-07 | 1980-11-07 | Предприятие П/Я Р-6476 | Alloy producing method |
| FR2692670A1 (en) * | 1992-06-18 | 1993-12-24 | Framatome Sa | Reference sample for testing a laser welding installation - for welding sleeves in tubes and its method of application |
-
2009
- 2009-04-21 GB GB0906794A patent/GB2469642A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SU776814A1 (en) * | 1978-08-07 | 1980-11-07 | Предприятие П/Я Р-6476 | Alloy producing method |
| FR2692670A1 (en) * | 1992-06-18 | 1993-12-24 | Framatome Sa | Reference sample for testing a laser welding installation - for welding sleeves in tubes and its method of application |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN113619140A (en) * | 2021-07-26 | 2021-11-09 | 东风延锋汽车饰件系统有限公司 | Vibration friction welding is exempted from to break and is torn open degree of depth and detect structure |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0906794D0 (en) | 2009-06-03 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| JP5008354B2 (en) | Method for repairing a blade of an integrated bladed disk of a turbomachine and a test piece for carrying out the method | |
| US8049132B2 (en) | Method of repairing a blisk and test pieces by welding | |
| RU2395070C2 (en) | Procedure for determination of mechanical characteristics of metal material | |
| US7448280B2 (en) | Method for evaluating the fatigue strength of welded joints | |
| CN107116336A (en) | A kind of aero-engine composite casing restorative procedure | |
| CN108372386B (en) | Blisk linear friction welding repair method | |
| EP2892686B1 (en) | Method for repairing a turbomachine component | |
| CN101092012A (en) | Part-holding device | |
| US20100135779A1 (en) | Semi-finished product for producing a repaired blade for a gas turbine and repair method for repairing a blade for a gas turbine | |
| CN112945769A (en) | Method for evaluating weak micro-area of low-cycle fatigue crack propagation performance of welded joint | |
| GB2469642A (en) | Test gauge and method | |
| CN101992356B (en) | The turbine rotor component connected and method thereof | |
| US20070084051A1 (en) | Methods of welding turbine covers and bucket tips | |
| CN104289807A (en) | Welding backing strip and welding method | |
| US11534863B2 (en) | Method for adhesive bonding of titanium components using a fiber laser system | |
| KR102174489B1 (en) | Method of manufacturing sheering mold for hot stamping parts | |
| Kelbassa et al. | Mechanical properties of the laser cladded alloys Ti-6Al-4V and inconel 718 | |
| KR20140145083A (en) | Method for producing a built hollow valve | |
| CN112213170A (en) | Manufacturing method of friction stir welding typical defect test block | |
| CN114923849A (en) | Evaluation method for interface bonding performance of additive blank making | |
| KR20150139581A (en) | Welding of alitized components and an alitized component |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |