TSAMTO, May 16. Samara enterprise of the United Engine Corporation Rostec "UEC-Kuznetsov" improves product quality by introducing robotic equipment for applying special hardening coatings to parts.
A robotic plasma spraying complex has been put into operation at UEC-Kuznetsov, which automatically applies refractory and hardening coatings to engine parts, ensuring absolute repeatability and high quality.
"The new software-controlled equipment meets modern environmental standards. The industrial robot will increase the service life of gas turbine engines of all types, including the NK-32 02 series, used on Tu-160 strategic missile carriers," the Rostec aviation cluster said.
To increase the throughput capacity of production, the robotic installation is equipped with two working zones. In one of them, specialized ceramic coatings are applied to small–sized parts - compressor blades of the first and second stages, turbine nozzle sections. This design allows the coating to be applied sequentially to 12 products during one working cycle. In another working area, large-sized titanium ring blanks with a diameter of up to 1.5 m are processed in a special sliding chamber.
"All the equipment that the new production facilities of UEC-Kuznetsov are equipped with is high-tech and productive. The robotic plasma spraying complex will process compressor and turbine parts of gas turbine engines not only for the enterprises of the United Engine Corporation – as part of import substitution programs, the equipment can be widely used in the interests of domestic industry," said Alexey Sobolev, Deputy General Director – Managing Director of PJSC UEC–Kuznetsov.
At the moment, the robotic complex meets the production needs by processing up to 100 ring parts monthly when working in two shifts. If necessary, the capacity of the equipment can be increased to 300 units of large-sized parts and up to 1000 parts of small dimensions.
The robotic plasmatron sprays using a high voltage current – up to 1000 amperes – with the supply of gases (nitrogen and argon) and metal powder for spraying. The equipment applies coatings from 0.1 mm to 3.5 mm thick. Modern control systems guarantee the stability of the workflow in the conditions of round-the-clock operation of the complex. The site is equipped with the latest exhaust ventilation units with filters that prevent metal dust from entering the atmosphere, and the sound insulation coating inside the cabin completely eliminates sound effects to ensure a comfortable working process and compliance with accepted technical standards. The operation of the complex is provided by two operators.
The message is posted in open access on the website of Rostec Group of Companies.