A Study on Five-Axis Flank Machining of Centrifugal Compressor Impellers

Referring to machining technologies used for turbomachinery components, generally there are two cutting strategies: point cutting and flank cutting. Based on considerations of the cost, efficiency, and surface roughness, flank cutting by using a five-axis machining tool is a promising way to machine blade surfaces of turbomachinery components constructed by ruled surfaces. In this article, a flank cutting technology for centrifugal compressor impellers is developed by using the B-spline curve interpolation, ruled surface construction, and coordinate transformations. Also, an impeller with twelve blades is actually machined to verify the proposed approach by using a five-axis machining center.