Russian engineers "revealed secrets" of domestic aircraft blade production

The Naro-Fominsk Machine-Building Plant (NFMZ), part of the United Engine Corporation Rostec, demonstrated a full cycle of production of compressor blades for aircraft engines. These high-tech components, on which the reliability of the entire power plant depends, are made of titanium alloys and heat-resistant nickel compounds using unique of technologies.

It is worth starting with the fact that compressor blades are products with complex geometry, requiring jewelry precision in manufacturing. Their aerodynamic profile with variable section thickness must ideally match the design parameters in order to operate effectively under conditions of extremely high loads.



The temperature of the gases in front of the turbine exceeds the melting point of the metal from which the blades are made, which places special demands on the materials and the cooling system.

In recent years, the production process at NFMZ has undergone significant modernization. If previously 27 mechanical operations were required to manufacture one blade, now their number has been reduced to two thanks to the introduction of five-axis CNC machines. This has made it possible to reduce labor costs tenfold - now one operator can simultaneously service four units of equipment.

At the same time, the company pays special attention to quality control. Each blade undergoes visual inspection, geometry check with special devices, radiography and fluorescent control to detect microcracks. The final polishing is done manually. This important operation is entrusted to highly qualified specialists, mainly women, whose attentiveness and accuracy are especially important at the final stage.

Today, the plant produces 350 types of blades for various aircraft engines, including VK-2500 for Mil and Kamov helicopters. The immediate plans include mastering the production of components for the promising PD-14 engine, which is installed on the latest Russian medium-haul airliners.

It is important to understand that our country is one of a small group of countries that have a full cycle of development and production of gas turbine aircraft engines. Preservation and development of these competencies is of strategic importance for ensuring technological sovereignty and safety of passenger air transportation in the country.