Robotic Blade Grinder

Oct. 28, 2014

Pacific Propeller International (PPI) has installed a revolutionary robotic propeller grinding tool in its Kent, Washington based propeller overhaul and repair facility. The Fanuc robotic arm was custom designed and programmed by Acme Manufacturing of Detroit, MI. The automated robot can now provide complete grinding and polishing to the blade surface in a 20 minute cycle. Prior to this automated procedure, PPI propeller technicians needed more than four hours to grind and polish each propeller blade, with four blades necessary for each prop assembly. Weighing more than 125 pounds each, blades had to previously be lifted by PPI workers and each blade had to be moved many times during the grinding and polishing process. The robot automates all of this, moving the blade into each position effortlessly. For further information, please contact PPI at 253-872-7767 or www.pacprop.com.