TABLE OF CONTENTS Straightening of titanium alloy parts and solutions to warpage are being covered in a separate book, but this chapter on warpage is included here for completeness as part of the milling process.
Large titanium alloy parts often warp beyond specified dimensions, and a lot of time is expended deciding whether to scrap the part, live with bad dimensions, or attempt to straighten the part. Warped parts cost money to fix or replace and cause schedules to slide. Unless the process is repaired, you will continue to produce bad parts.
The purpose of this chapter is to help curb the losses caused by warpage. Discussion focuses on ways to identify the cause or source of warpage stresses and of repairing processes to reduce warpage on large titanium alloy parts. The proposed solutions to warpage are not perfect there is still much to learn in this area but the solutions discussed are tried and proven in production and are based on considerable research.
This chapter deals primarily with warpage and emphasizes preventive measures. As stated above, the problem with warped parts is that they cost money to fix or replace and that warpage results in schedule slides. This book does not cover straightening of titanium alloys nor is it a primer on NC programming techniques. Details on straightening of titanium alloy parts will be covered in a future book as mentioned above.
The developing sections will try to explain the causes of warpage and ways to prevent warpage.
