Aerospace – Highly specialized field of application for G-modules

Reliable, efficient and incredibly precise – with their production quality and repetition accuracy, the innovative 5-axis universal machining centers from GROB meet the high standards of companies in the aerospace industry flawlessly for perfect machining of complex or extremely fine, difficult-to-machine components, for example those playing an important role in the machining of blisks.

In the aerospace industry, both aluminum and difficult-to-cut materials such as titanium or heat-resistant nickel-based alloys up to and including Inconel are machined.

 Thanks to their compact design, high productivity and precision, as well as their optimum accessibility, the universal machining center from GROB is perfectly suited as a milling or mill-turn machining center for aerospace companies. 

High quality with optimum efficiency
In view of the high costs for blanks and the strict tolerances, components in the aerospace industry must be produced in the highest quality right from the very start. The comprehensible documentation of the machining parameters and of the quality characteristics represents a particular challenge for safety components. 

The batch sizes are relatively small here, which requires machines and systems to be highly flexible and easy to set up – features that the universal machines of GROB provides. In hardly any other industry is the balancing act between economic efficiency and process reliability greater. 

The GROB engineers have risen to this complex challenge and developed the powerful 5-axis universal machining center series, creating an ideal machine concept that meets these criteria while also meeting individual customer requirements. When it comes to the different, specific requirements, it is worth taking a close look in order to make the best choice for a suitable machine solution. 

Unique tunnel design for nearly unlimited machining of blisks
Thanks to the special axis concept of the universal machining center, the full tool length can be employed in any axis position, even with maximum part sizes. The GROB tunnel design allows the entire work area to be used, since the motorized spindle and tool can fully retract into the spindle shaft. 

This enables the use of maximum tool dimensions for maximum component sizes, and allows blisks to be machined with no limitations. The interference diameter of the blisk here corresponds to the work area diameter of the GROB universal machining centers, which means that there are no limitations regarding the blade and tool lengths. 

Maximum machine stability thanks to horizontal spindle position
As the Z tool axis is located in the stable cross-slide structure, the distance between the runner blocks remains constant throughout the entire Z-axis stroke. Together with the long distance of the guide shoes to the spindle tip, this results in uniform milling conditions and perfect Z-axis stability.

With a vertical spindle position, the maximum blisk diameter depends on the blade height, and therefore also on the tool length. This means that the blisks have to be programmed in advance and inspected with a CAM simulator. The unique overhead machining allows for excellent chip fall and reduces the heat load in the component.

Highly dynamic spindles for a wide range of materials
The highest cutting volumes in aluminum processing, but also in hard-to-cut materials, are achieved using powerful motorized spindles with rotational speeds of up to 30,000 rpm.

Using optimized motorized spindles and rotary axis drives, our machining centers achieve the highest path velocities, even in 5-axis simultaneous machining. The high-torque motorized spindles are used in the heavy-duty cutting of superalloys. Coolant systems with frequency-controlled high-pressure pumps guarantee a reliable process.

Perfect chip disposal due to the horizontal arrangement of the spindles and optional overhead machining make the GROB 5-axis universal machining centers unique.

From an individual machine to automated and interlinked systems, as well as from specialized systems to turnkey processes, GROB provides the aerospace industry with the right concept. The G150, G350, G550 and G750 universal machining center series, optionally available as mill-turn machining centers, provides a broad range of applications for aerospace components up to a diameter of 1,280 mm.

This ensures that complex and extremely stable components with a wide range of requirements, such as turbine blades, turbine blisks, structural components, structural housings or brake flap fittings, are cut to perfection.