Tech Tuesday – Blue Arc™ Technology

TechSolve presented its first Public Demonstration of GE’s Blue Arc™ Technology in collaboration with Mitsui Seiki USA last month. The event drew an array of manufacturers, associations, academics, and media interested in the technology.

Blue Arc™  is a non-traditional, non-contact, electro-erosion process that is ideal for high speed rough machining of titanium and nickel alloys. Known for its rapid metal removal rates and ability to create unique, complex geometries, Blue Arc™ is recognized for its applications in aerospace such as machining of turbine blisks.

During the program, representatives from GE and Mitsui Seiki explained how Blue Arc™ Technology can contribute to a manufacturing process. For example, the technology is said to reduce cutting tool and overall energy costs and allow for flexibility in design that contrasts traditional cutting methods.

The demonstration itself featured the roughing of a 6AI-4V titanium workpiece on the Mitsui Seiki 5-axis hybrid Blue Arc™ Machine that is currently housed in TechSolve’s Technology Development Center.

If you are interested in learning more about the event or Blue Arc™ and other advanced manufacturing technologies, you can subscribe to Tech Tuesday, contact us here, or check out the articles below.

“Blue Arc™ Technology Delivers Fireworks in First Public Demonstration”

By: Jim Lorentz of Advanced Manufacturing

June 18, 2018

“…from four to five times faster than conventional cutting of aerospace alloys…”

“Sparks Fly at Blue Arc™ Technology Preview”

By: Bart Bishop of Production Machining

June 14, 2018

“…this is an impressive sight, as high-amperage, low-voltage electrical energy between…”

You can check out some photos and videos shared by select event guests on our Twitter page, or at the following links:

Julia Hider‏ @MMS_JuliaHider Jun 6 : “ Before, during and after the Blue Arc process @TechSolveInc. According to @mitsuiseikiusa CEO Robb Hudson, the most important thing to remember is coolant flushing!

Eli Plaskett‏ @MMS_Eli Jun 6: @mitsuiseikiusa and @TechSolveInc had Blue Arc on display. The technology can machine titanium 3x faster than with standard milling, but uses similar toolpaths.

Production Machining‏ @PMProdMachining Jun 14: On Wednesday, June 6, @TechSolveInc hosted a public unveiling of Blue Arc machining technology, a non-contact metal removal process that uses electro-erosion to produce an EDM-like surface.

http://ow.ly/kWhv30ktZT7
About Tech Tuesday: As part of our commitment to helping manufacturers understand and identify ways to implement emerging technologies, Tech Tuesday is a weekly series designed to provide resources to help manufacturers turn these technologies into solutions that are appropriate for their own unique manufacturing environments.