General Electric Company

Kenneth Edward Mascarenas

James Henry Madge

Sukhminder S Grewal

Daniel Edward Jones

Jacques Juneau

Rudi Oskar Krenz

Willem T De Graaff

Vineet Vermani

A fixture adapted to precisely position two components to permit multiple machining operations of the components at a single work station. The fixture includes a backbone having a first portion for securing the first component and a second portion for securing the second component. First and second portions each further include an integral lobe and a finger which extend outwardly from the backbone, each terminating in a datum surface, as well as an additional datum surface which collectively form a set of datum locators along both the first and second portions. Each set of datum locators precisely positions the two components at a predetermined distance and orientation from each other.

Method for utilizing fixture having integrated datum locators

A method is provided for centering a workpiece on a metal shaping machine. First and second guide plates have respective first and second aligned bores therein for supporting a centering pin mounted therein for axial movement between a retracted position and a use position. At least one spring is engaged with the centering pin for exerting a predetermined axial bias against the centering pin in the direction of the workpiece for urging the centering pin into the use position. The centering pin is locked in the use position during the operation of the machine on the workpiece.

Apparatus and method for centering a workpiece on a machine tool

An apparatus is provided for centering a workpiece on a machine tool that includes first and second guide plates having respective first and second aligned bores therein for supporting a centering pin mounted therein for axial movement between a retracted position and a use position. The centering pin cooperates with a workpiece such as a fan rotor blade of a turbine engine for positioning the workpiece in a predetermined position relative to a metal shaping operation to be carried out by the machine on the workpiece. At least one spring cooperates with the centering pin for exerting a predetermined axial bias for urging the centering pin into the use position. A lock locks the centering pin in the use position.

An electrical discharge machining (EDM) apparatus includes at least one work station having an electrode fixedly mounted to a base and a workpiece fixture slidingly mounted to the base above the electrode. A servomotor is mounted to the base and arranged to drive the workpiece fixture toward and away from the workpiece. Preferably, the EDM apparatus will include a number of such work stations, and each work station will be connected to a separate control system for independently controlling and energizing the work station.

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Bosque Farms, NM, United States of America

Kenneth Edward Mascarenas