Glossary

What are transonic airfoils, and what is the active clearance control? Check out our technical dictionary and find out more about engine technology terms – from active clearance control to velocity triangle.

Geared fan Glass bead peening Grinding

Grinding

Grinding is one of the most important machining methods in the production of turbine blades and vanes. Since the materials used (super alloys, i.e. nickel- and cobalt-base alloys) are extremely tough they can hardly be machined by other methods using tools with defined cutting edges (turning, milling, etc.). All functional surfaces are therefore produced by grinding methods, such as cylindrical grinding, surface grinding or profile grinding (with and without continuous dressing). Preferred abrasives for grinding wheels are corundum and cubic boron nitride (CBN).