Refractory metal core finishing technique
A refractory metal core (RMC) finishing method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, performing a plurality of finishing operations on a plurality of RMC samples, analyzing one or more properties of at least a portion of the plurality of RMC samples and selecting a combination of finishing operations for generating an RMC having desirable properties for manufacturing a part free from defects.
1. A method, comprising:
measuring at least one property of a plurality of refractory metal core (RMC) samples;
splitting the plurality of RMC samples into a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion;
performing a first finishing operation on the first portion; and
performing a second finishing operation on the second portion;
wherein the measuring at least one property of the plurality of RMC samples includes measuring sharpness of break edges and a surface finish of the plurality of RMC samples.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
coating the plurality of RMC samples.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
performing at least one validation operation on the plurality of RMC samples.
4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the at least one validation operation includes at least one of furnace testing and casting.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the splitting the plurality of RMC samples into a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion includes splitting the plurality of RMC samples into a first portion, a second portion different from the first portion, and a third portion different from the first portion and the second portion.
6. The method as recited in claim 5 , the method comprising:
robotic machining the third portion.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first finishing operation includes a harperizing process performed for a first amount of time, and the second finishing operation includes a harperizing process performed for a second amount of time different from the first amount of time.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the splitting the plurality of RMC samples into a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion includes splitting the plurality of RMC samples into a first portion, a second portion different from the first portion, and a third portion different from the first portion and the second portion.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 , the method comprising:
robotic machining the third portion to round break edges of the third portion.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 , comprising:
coating the plurality of RMC samples.
11. The method as recited in claim 10 , comprising:
performing at least one validation operation on the plurality of RMC samples.
12. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first finishing operation is different from the second finishing operation.
13. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the splitting step is performed based on results from the measuring step.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first and second finishing operations are performed to provide the plurality of RMC samples for manufacturing a part that is free from at least one of alloying, spallation and recrystallization.
15. The method as recited in claim 1 , the method comprising:
robotic machining the second portion to round break edges of the second portion.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the robotic machining comprises moving a tool with a robotic arm along surfaces of the second portion to round break edges, wherein the tool comprises a bristle.
17. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the robotic machining comprises sensing the amount of force applied by the tool against the surfaces.
18. The method as recited in claim 17 , where the splitting step is performed based on the measuring step, and the first and second finishing operations are performed to provide the plurality of RMC samples for manufacturing a part that is free from at least one of alloying, spallation and recrystallization.
19. The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein the first finishing operation is different from the second finishing operation.
20. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the splitting step is performed based on results from the first measuring step, the first finishing operation is performed for a first duration, the second finishing operation is performed for a second duration from the first duration, and the first and second finishing operations are performed to provide the plurality of RMC samples for manufacturing a part that is free from at least one of alloying, spallation and recrystallization.