Automated stator straightening

Stators must be straight to perform reliably in the field. The existing straightening process was lengthy, manual and iterative, requiring substantial labor and high heat.

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TCSC designed and built a machine that holds the stator and inspects internal- and external-diameter runout at key positions. An induction head heats the selected area, followed by quenching around the outside diameter. The machine then remeasures the part and repeats the process along its length. The system accommodates parts up to 45 feet long and approximately 3 to 9 inches in diameter, with an HMI, push chain and chillers.

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The machine combines holding, inspection, heating, quenching and remeasurement in a single controlled process. The supplied results describe machine capability rather than a measured reduction in cycle time or labor.

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