Tool manufacturer Rhinestahl has developed a new boroscopic turbine blade blending system called FutureBlend. Available in six- and ten-millimeter sizes, the FutureBlend tool has an integrated borescope so technicians can view blade-blending operations.

The key difference between FutureBlend and other boroscopic blade-blending tools, which are available from traditional borescope manufacturers, is the Rhinestahl tool's reciprocating action. The first rough part of the blending job is done with a reciprocating (up and down motion) blending bit. The reciprocating bit develops far less heat than rotary bits, according to Tom Johnston, director of engineering and sales, and less stress on the blade.

Once the rough blending is finished, then the technician can swap the reciprocating tool for a rotary tool equipped with polishing stones for finish grinding and polishing. The FutureBlend tool is driven by compressed air. A variety of grinding and polishing stones is available to fit onto the reciprocating or rotary tool.

Rhinestahl also manufactures the FutureDrive borescope inspection tool, a clever unit that attaches to an engine drive pad and rotates the engine during inspections. Instead of one technician having to count blades while looking through a borescope while another rotates the engine by hand, FutureDrive automates the process so it can be done by one person. FutureDrive is programmed with engine models so it knows how many blades are on a particular disk. The technician can electronically tag blades to make them easier to find for further inspection, plus adjust rotation speed and blade position. According to Rhinestahl, FutureDrive can cut the time spent for borescope inspections by as much as 50 percent.

New Ear Plugs
from Howard Leight

Howard Leight has introduced the new Matrix single-use earplugs. The earplugs are made of lightweight no-roll low-pressure foam and come in three attenuation levels. The three levels are identified by the color of the plugs: orange is high (noise-reduction-rating of 29 decibels; green is medium (27 dB); and blue is low (23 dB). The Matrix earplugs are easy to insert due to their smaller diameter compared to typical foam earplugs, and they don't need to be rolled to make them fit into the ear canal. According to Howard Leight, the Matrix earplugs are designed to cut out harmful frequencies while allowing voices to be heard. I tried the Matrix earplugs on a long airline flight and found them comfortable and quiet. They do feel different than foam earplugs that I normally use because they don't expand like foam plugs and they also have a stiff center portion that makes them easy to insert. Overall, the Matrix earplugs cut outside noise to a comfortable level but I was still able to hear PA announcements.
— By Matt Thurber

BOLT-GRIP Loosens Worn Bolts

IRWIN's clever BOLT-GRIP extractors are like inside-out easy-outs, designed to remove rusted, painted-over, and rounded-off bolts without resorting to tools that might cause more damage and make the bolt impossible to remove. BOLT-GRIPs are like sockets, but instead of flats that fit over the bolt head, the inside of the socket features a reverse-spiral flute. Turning the BOLT-GRIP socket forces the flutes to grab the rounded-over bolt head and applies a turning moment to the head to loosen it. The harder the socket is forced onto the bolt head and the harder it is turned, the more force is applied to loosen the bolt. I tried a BOLT-GRIP on a rusty bolt (on my car) and the bolt came right off, without too much force required. Unfortunately, I needed that bolt (temporarily, of course) and almost wished for a reverse-reverse-spiral fluted BOLT-GRIP so I could put the bolt back on. BOLT-GRIPs come in sizes from 3/8 inch to 5/8 inch, with enough sizes in between to fit on most bolts, both SAE and metric.
— By Matt Thurber