Advances in the INTEFIX case study 2.4 : Machining of aircraft turbine support structures
INTEFIX project (FP7 Grant Agreement 609306) aims to increase the performance of the machining processes by the use of intelligent fixture systems, allowing the monitoring, control and adaptation of the process to obtain suitable results according to precision, quality and cost requirements.
Normally the main functions of fixtures are to securely hold and accurately locate the workpiece considered as an undeformable body, but nowadays the high required precision and the need of increasing the performance of the manufacturing process drives to other important functions of the fixtures taking into account aspects like the deformations, vibrations and distortions in the workpiece during processing. Furthermore, the machining system (machine-fixture-workpiece) cannot be considered as a stable system due to its dynamic behaviour and geometrical shape variations along the process, so adaptive fixtures can be used to control and adapt the behaviour of the machining system in order to obtain adequate results in manufacturing precision, quality and cost.