From The Blue Origin Newsletter:
For BE-4, not only do we have to design the engine itself, we also have to
develop custom tools to make it. One of these tools is an automated
electrical discharge machining (EDM) drilling machine. The EDM precisely
locates and burns more than 4,000 tightly dimensioned holes into the nozzle
and main combustion chamber, providing entry to the regenerative cooling
channels.
As far as we know, this particular EDM machine is the only one of its kind
in the world. It has 11 axes of motion allowing for precise hole location
and accuracy within a few thousands of an inch. Its dual-head design
results in reduced cycle time for the drilled holes. Brass multichannel
electrodes are used to drill the holes. Water can be pumped through the
electrode in order to speed up the drilling cycle. The use of water also
helps flush the hole and remove the powder-like foreign object debris
generated by the process. This eliminates the concern for plugging cooling
channels, which can easily occur with conventional drilling methods. A pair
of automated electrode-changing stations allows the EDM to continuously
operate for long cycle times at an average rate of one hole every 90
seconds.
Building and operating custom tools of this magnitude is a big investment,
but it’s critical for developing an engine that will power America’s access
to space in the future.
A pretty wise investment, if you ask me.
*Gradatim Ferociter!*
Jeff Bezos
PS: Blue Origin is hiring. Check out our Careers
<http://blueorigin.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ca4c14684ac1af3f1219b4382&id=f3479d6d75&e=0ab0bb6368>
page and apply.
*Only 1,000 holes to go.*
Zachary Martinez
Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
Missouri S&T
On Wed, Mar 8, 2017 at 12:30 AM, Michael Clive <clive@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
No, that looks like bog-standard slotted chamber/jacket/braze.
I am interested to know if I am wrong.
On Tue, Mar 7, 2017 at 6:03 AM, John Dom <johndom@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
https://www.inverse.com/article/12696-jeff-bezos-writes-that
-blue-origin-s-be-4-engines-will-eliminate-russian-dependence
Looks like the engine interior is made of copper on the picture.
Electroformed cooling channels?
John
