Low-Cost Turbine Wheel Manufacturing Processes

The small gas turbine engine, such as Avco Lycoming's LTS 101, has many intended applications. Use of improved materials and processes, which minimize labor input and material costs while maintaining standards of reliability and performance, makes it possible to meet customer requirements and acceptance for intended application. In the turbine section, the turbine wheels offer an opportunity to effectively combine reliability, performance, and cost-saving techniques.

This paper describes the various process approaches used in manufacturing LTS 101 turbine wheels which proved to be successful in achieving these goals.