Each of the four engines of a jumbo jet generates 276 kilonewtons of thrust during take‑off. In the process, around three litres of kerosene are burned per second in each combustion chamber. Once the cruising speed of approximately 950 km/h is reached, the aircraft requires only about 30 percent of the maximum total thrust, which is roughly 250 kilonewtons. This corresponds to around 90,000 horsepower. By comparison, a high‑speed ICE train delivers about 12,000 horsepower, depending on the configuration.

It quickly becomes clear that turbine blades are exposed to extreme loads. Whether located in the inlet, the compressor or the combustion chamber of an aircraft engine, they must withstand extreme rotational speeds, very high temperatures, enormous centrifugal forces and constant impact from dust particles contained in the intake air.

For this reason, only high‑strength and heat‑resistant materials such as Inconel, Nimonic or titanium are used for turbine blades. However, these high‑tech materials prove to be true milling tool killers when machined by cutting processes. As a result, more and more users are turning to grinding for the manufacture and refurbishment of these high‑value turbine blades.

For the Haas Multigrind® CB, we have developed a grinding process that allows all geometries of a turbine blade to be machined in a single setup. This process reduces tool costs, ensures stable and reliable machining and guarantees dimensional accuracy in the micrometre range.

If you would like to learn more about this grinding process, I would be pleased to receive your comments or questions.