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Abrasive Waterjet Cutting & Laser Machining
LAI uses precision laser machining and advanced abrasive waterjet technology to process precision components for land- and air-based gas turbines. LAI's specialized waterjet cutting operations, which cut slots in spacer bands and rings, excel at near-net cutting of difficult-to-machine materials, including stainless steel, Inconel and titanium. The world leader in precision shaped hole drilling with abrasive waterjet cutting technology, LAI processes blades, buckets, blisks, shrouds, nozzles, vanes, impingement plates and other precision turbine components.
Waterjet hole-drilling capability
- Diameters as small as 0.018 inches
- Angles from 25 to 90 degrees
- Custom shape geometry drilling
Abrasive Waterjet Drill-to-Flow Technology
LAI has pioneered development of processing shaped cooling holes using an enhanced abrasive milling technology that eliminates thermal distortion, re-cast layers and the need for secondary operations. LAI's Drill-to-Flow Abrasive Water Jet Process drills precision shaped holes to diameters as small as 0.018 inches. This innovative water jet drilling process provides a number of advantages over traditional machining methods, including:
- Superior hole quality.
- Greater design freedom.
- Tighter flow control.
- Improved hole profiles.
- No re-cast or globules.
- Lower processing cost.
- Ability to drill through thermal-barrier-coated parts.
Info sheet: Drill to flow
Download Adobe Acrobat PDF file
Laser Machining Services
Advanced laser machining services of power generation applications
LAI's five-axis laser machining centers cut, weld and drill pre-formed, three-dimensional and rotary parts. A through-the-lens registraion allows for precision feature location and placement. An automatic focus control follows the contour of the part regardless of surface irregularities.
LAI performs percussion, trepanning and fire-on-the-fly techniques for
drilling effusion holes in pre-formed parts.
Laser machining capabilities
- Difficult-to-process materials and exotic metals
- Holes drilled from 0.003 inches to 24 inches in
diameter
- Material thicknesses from films to 1 inch
- Angles from 10 to 90 degrees
- Rotary parts up to 48 inches in diameter
- Pre-formed parts processed with heights up to 24
inches and widths up to 48 inches
Solution provider for the power generation industry
LAI is an approved supplier to
manufacturers of turbines and other components in the power generation
industry.
Power generation product sector
LAI has established a dedicated product directorate for the power
generation market to better support the unique requirements of the
power generation industry in reducing costs by applying optimal manufacturing solutions while maintaining the highest levels of part quality.
LAI names Director of Power Generation Products
News release on LAI's Director of
Power Generation Products
Darcy Dodge,
Director of Power Generation Products
Turbine Products Division
763-780-0060 Ext. 133
763-784-4740 Fax
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A five-axis precision waterjet cuts a spacer
band for a steam turbine. The band, which retains
nozzles for directing steam, is 0.6 inches thick
and 62 inches in diameter.
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Stainless steel spacer bands, cut by precision waterjet, are pictured here.
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A close-up shot shows the tear-shaped patterns cut into a spacer band.
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