Turbomachinery component manufacture by application of electrochemical, electro-physical and photonic processes

This paper presents an overview of the current technological and economical capabilities of electrochemical (ECM-based), electro-physical (EDM-based) and photonic (Laser-/EBM-based) additive and removal processes for turbomachinery component manufacture. Starting with the industrial demands and challenges of today, the technologies are reviewed in detail regarding achievable geometrical precision and surface integrity as well as material removal and deposition rates for conventionally difficult-to-cut Ti- and Ni-based alloys and dedicated steels. Past, existing and future areas of technology application of these advanced non-mechanical manufacturing processes are discussed. The paper focusses on the description of shaping processes therefore excludes pure welding or coating applications.