EDITOR’S CHOICE
PRECISION POSITIONING DEVICES
RPI UK
Delta Airlines installs two RPI turbine rotor assembly systems
RPI UK has installed two integrated rotor
measurement and assembly platforms
(iMAPs) at Atlanta-based Delta Airlines; the
Rolls-Royce approved MRO facility.
RPI is the world’s leading specialist
developer and manufacturer of precision
positioning devices for high accuracy
rotary and angular inspection systems. The
Atlanta-based Delta Airlines facility carry
out maintenance, repair and overhaul
(MRO) of all Rolls-Royce Trent engines in
the United States.
Wyvern Industrial Technology LLC (RPI’s
USA distributor) and Paris Mountain
Consulting (RPI’s USA technical software
support provider) were on hand to assist
with the installation. Going forward, both
companies will provide Delta with after
sales service.
In addition to the iMAPs, RPI has also
supplied Delta with Trent series 03 and 04
module tooling sets significantly reducing
set up times and helping to improve the
overall performance of the measurement
process.
Jim Palmer, RPI’s sales manager, said:
“We’ve been working with Rolls-Royce for
over 30 years so it’s great news that both
Rolls-Royce and Delta - their approved
MRO facility, are choosing to invest in iMAP
which has been independently verified to
give significant operational improvements
over traditional measurement methods.”
“With world-class accuracy, our iMAP
machine achieves higher levels of quality
while helping our customers save money
and resources. This is achieved by
significantly reducing inspection times and
the need for costly rotor teardowns due to
inefficient rotor assembly optimisation.”
RPI’s iMAP is proven to reduce inspection
times by 90% and improve gauge
repeatability and reproducibility by up
to 10 times. The technology is used by
Delta after the engines are dismantled,
to inspect each individual section of the
engine for cracks, wear and distortion.
Measurements are taken by AccuScan
reducing process times to just two
minutes; a significant time saving compared
with other available methods.
With world-class accuracy,
our iMAP machine
achieves higher levels of
quality while helping our
customers save money
and resources.
to check the components geometry
meet their original and regional board
specifications as part of the stringent MRO
process.
Once the components have been
approved, repaired or replaced, the iMAP
is used for engine assembly to ensure
alignment and concentricity is correct and
balanced as each section is rebuilt.
iMAP’s data acquisition software AccuScan
enables measurement of up to 4,000
data points on up to eight surfaces
simultaneously per revolution, thereby
This significantly improved inspection
data is then used by the Rotor Stacking
software to optimise the assembly of each
component relevant to its neighbour to
achieve minimum runout or unbalance
of the finished rotor. This technology is
absolutely fundamental to ensure the
operational quality of the engine entering
back into service, for optimal reduction in
vibration, greater fuel efficiency and longer
service intervals.
Specifically designed to inspect large and
heavy components, RPI’s iMAP machines
are fully compatible with any shop floor
environment whilst maintaining world class
accuracies more commonly seen in the
standards laboratory.
Combining a motorised high precision
air bearing rotary axis, rigid column unit,
anti-vibration granite base and AccuScan
multi-channel circular geometry inspection
software, IMAP is the definitive system for
productivity improvement in turbine rotor
assembly.
For further information, please visit www.rpiuk.com
28
PECM Issue 43