Patent Publication Number: US-2007119040-A1

Title: Methods and apparatus for securing components for manufacture

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to manufacturing techniques, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for securing components for manufacture.  
      Accurate manufacturing of a component may be a significant factor in determining a manufacturing time of the component. Specifically, when the component is a gas turbine engine blade, accurate manufacturing of the blade may be one of the most significant factors affecting an overall cost of fabrication of the gas turbine engine, as well as subsequent modifications, repairs, and inspections of the blade. For example, gas turbine engine blades include a tip shroud that typically requires an accurately machined radius along the tip and center section of the blade. The radius is established using a system of datums referenced about the profile of the blade. More specifically, to establish the datums, the blades must be rigidly held during manufacturing, such that the tip shroud is maintained in position without distorting the blade profile.  
      At least some known manufacturing processes encapsulate a cast gas turbine engine blade in a tin-bismuth matrix wherein datums from the cast blade are transferred to the matrix. However, using such a matrix does not always produce accurate results that are reliable or easily repeatable. In addition, using a matrix may require multiple fixtures, machines, and/or processes. Furthermore, a matrix may decrease how rigidly the blade is held during manufacturing, which may result in a slower manufacturing time of the blade.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      In one aspect, a method is provided for securing a component within a tool for manufacture. The tool includes a fixture, a component locator, and a clamping member. The method includes fixedly coupling the component locator to the fixture, coupling the clamping member to the fixture, locating the component within the tool using the component locator such that the component is in positioned for manufacture with respect to the fixture, securing the component within the tool between the component locator and the clamping member such that the component locator, the clamping member, and the component are fixedly secured in position with respect to the fixture, and retaining the component in position with respect to the fixture using the component locator and the clamping member.  
      In another aspect, a tool is provided including a fixture and a component locator fixedly coupled to the fixture. The component locator includes at least one coolant guide for channeling coolant to the component during manufacturing of the component. The tool further includes a clamping member coupled to the fixture. The component locator and the clamping member are configured to retain the component therebetween.  
      In yet another aspect, an apparatus is provided for securing a component for manufacture. The apparatus includes a fixture and a component locator fixedly coupled to the fixture. The component locator is sized to receive at least a portion of the component therein to locate the component with respect to the fixture. The apparatus further includes a clamping member rotatably coupled to the fixture. The component locator and the clamping member are configured to retain the component therebetween. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary gas turbine engine blade;  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a fixture assembly for securing a component, such as the gas turbine engine blade shown in  FIG. 1 , in position during manufacture;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a dovetail clamp assembly portion of the fixture shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the fixture shown in  FIG. 3  and taken along line  4 - 4  and in an unclamped position;  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the fixture shown in  FIG. 4  and in a clamped position; and  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a component locator used with the fixture shown in  FIG. 2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      As used herein, the terms “manufacture” and “manufacturing” may include any manufacturing process. For example, manufacturing processes may include grinding, finishing, polishing, cutting, machining, inspecting, and/or casting. The above examples are intended as exemplary only, and thus are not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the terms “manufacture” and “manufacturing”. In addition, as used herein the term “component” may include any object to which a manufacturing process is applied. Furthermore, although the invention is described herein in association with a gas turbine engine, and more specifically for use with a turbine blade for a gas turbine engine, it should be understood that the present invention may be applicable to any component and/or any manufacturing process. Accordingly, practice of the present invention is not limited to the manufacture of turbine blades or other components of gas turbine engines.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a turbine blade  10  that may be used with a gas turbine engine (not shown). In one embodiment, a plurality of turbine blades  10  form a high-pressure turbine rotor blade stage (not shown) of the gas turbine engine. Each blade  10  includes a hollow airfoil  12  and an integral dovetail  14  that is used for mounting airfoil  12  to a rotor disk (not shown) in a known manner. Alternatively, blades  10  may extend radially outwardly from a disk (not shown), such that a plurality of blades  10  form a blisk (not shown).  
      Each airfoil  12  includes a first contoured sidewall  16  and a second contoured sidewall  18 . First sidewall  16  is convex and defines a suction side of airfoil  12 , and second sidewall  18  is concave and defines a pressure side of airfoil  12 . Sidewalls  16  and  18  are joined at a leading edge  20  and at an axially-spaced trailing edge  22  of airfoil  12 . More specifically, airfoil trailing edge  22  is spaced chordwise and downstream from airfoil leading edge  20 . First and second sidewalls  16  and  18 , respectively, extend longitudinally or radially outward in span from a blade root  24  positioned adjacent dovetail  14 , to an airfoil tip  26 . In one embodiment, airfoil tip  26  includes a tip shroud  28  extending radially outward therefrom in a direction away from airfoil  12 . Tip shroud  28  includes a bottom surface  30 .  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a fixture assembly  50  for securing turbine blade  10  in position for manufacture. Fixture assembly  50  includes a fixture  52  used for manufacturing processes, a dovetail clamp assembly  54  coupled to fixture  52 , and a tip shroud clamp assembly  56  coupled to fixture  52 . Dovetail clamp assembly  54  and tip shroud clamp assembly  56  are coupled to fixture  52  using any suitable coupling means. For example, in one embodiment, at least one of dovetail clamp assembly  54  and tip shroud clamp assembly  56  is coupled to fixture  52  using threaded bolts and threaded nuts. In another embodiment, at least one of dovetail clamp assembly  54  and tip shroud clamp assembly  56  are coupled to fixture  52  using threaded bolts and threaded openings in fixture  52 . Prior to undergoing a manufacturing process, a cast turbine blade  10  is vertically loaded into fixture assembly  50 .  
      Dovetail clamp assembly  54  aligns blade dovetail  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) such that dovetail  14  is secured in a position with respect to fixture  52  that facilitates accurate manufacturing of blade  10 . Tip shroud clamp assembly  56  locates the blade tip shroud such that tip shroud  28  is maintained in a position with respect to fixture  52  that facilitates accurate manufacturing of blade  10 . Accordingly, using dovetail clamp assembly  54  and tip shroud clamp assembly  56 , fixture assembly  50  facilitates locating, securing, and retaining blade  10  in a position with respect to fixture  52  to facilitate accurate manufacturing of blade  10 .  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of dovetail clamp assembly  54 . Dovetail clamp assembly  54  includes a first clamping member  58 , a second clamping member  60 , and a biasing mechanism  62 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of dovetail second clamping taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and illustrating clamping member  60  in an unclamped position. First clamping member  58  is fixedly coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  such that first clamping member  58  does not move with respect to fixture  52 . More specifically, first clamping member  58  is fixedly coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  using any suitable coupling means. For example, in one embodiment, first clamping member  58  is coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  using threaded bolts and threaded nuts. In another embodiment, first clamping member  58  is coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  using threaded bolts and threaded holes in dovetail clamp assembly  54 .  
      Second clamping member  60  is rotatably coupled to fixture  52  such that second clamping member  60  rotates with respect to fixture  52 , about an axis of rotation  64 . More specifically, and as described in greater detail below, second clamping member  60  rotates about axis  64  between a ‘clamped’ position (shown in  FIG. 5 ) and an ‘unclamped’ position (shown in  FIG. 4 ). Second clamping member  60  is rotated between the ‘clamped’ and ‘unclamped’ positions using any suitable means. For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , second clamping member  60  is driven using hydraulic fluid supplied from a source external to fixture assembly  50  through a hydraulic fluid supply line  66  and a supply line fitting  67 . When second clamping member  60  is in the ‘clamped’ position, first clamping member  58  and second clamping member  60  fixedly secure dovetail  14  in a position that facilitates accurate manufacturing of blade  10 .  
      In the exemplary embodiment, second clamping member  60  includes a pin  69  coupled thereto in any suitable manner. Pin  69  is coupled to a second clamp biasing mechanism (not shown), which is coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54 , or alternatively fixture  52 , in any suitable manner. The second clamp biasing mechanism biases pin  69  to rotate about axis  64  in a direction away from first clamping member  58 . Pin  69  and the second clamp biasing mechanism thereby facilitate biasing second clamping member  60  to rotate from the ‘clamped’ position to the ‘unclamped’ position. In an alternative embodiment, second clamping member  60  does not include pin  69  and the second clamp biasing mechanism directly biases second clamping member  60  from the ‘clamped’ position to the ‘unclamped’ position. In one embodiment, the second clamp biasing mechanism is a spring.  
      In the exemplary embodiment, second clamping member  60  also includes a semi-cylindrical opening  68  extending through second clamping member  60  along axis  64 , and dovetail clamp assembly  54  includes a semi-cylindrical projection  70  extending outwardly from a surface  72  of dovetail clamp assembly  54  and extending along a portion of axis  64 . Semi-cylindrical projection  70  includes a stem portion  74  that extends from surface  72 , and a cylindrically-shaped portion  76  that extends from stem portion  74 . Cylindrically-shaped portion  76  is received within semi-cylindrical opening  68  such that second clamping member  60  is supported by semi-cylindrical projection  70 . A diameter d 1  of cylindrically-shaped portion  76  is slightly smaller than a diameter d 2  of semi-cylindrical opening  68  such that second clamping member  60  is freely rotatable about semi-cylindrical projection  70  and axis  64 . In one embodiment, diameter d 1  is 0.2 inches smaller than diameter d 2 . In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a bearing (not shown) is positioned between semi-cylindrical projection  70  and semi-cylindrical opening  68  to facilitate rotation of second clamping member  60  about semi-cylindrical projection  70  and axis  64 . Although second clamping member  60  is illustrated and described herein as rotatably coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  in the exemplary manner, it will be understood that second clamping member  60  may be rotatably coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  in any suitable manner. For example, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), second clamping member  60  is fixedly coupled with a rod (not shown) that is rotatably coupled with dovetail clamp assembly  54 .  
      As described above, in the exemplary embodiment described herein and shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , rotation of second clamping member  60  between the ‘clamped’ position and the ‘unclamped’ position is driven by hydraulic fluid. More specifically, dovetail clamp assembly  54  includes a hydraulic cylinder  78  that includes an intake port  80 , an internal chamber (not shown), and a rod  82 . Intake port  80  is in fluid communication with the internal chamber and is coupled in fluid communication with an intake port supply line  84  that is coupled in fluid communication with supply line fitting  67 . Supply line fitting  67  is coupled in fluid communication with hydraulic fluid supply line  66 , which is coupled in fluid communication with a hydraulic fluid source external to fixture assembly  50 . An internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  78  includes a piston (not shown) that is slidable within the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  78  along a central axis  86  of hydraulic cylinder  78 . Rod  82  is coupled to the piston and extends outwardly through a portion of the hydraulic cylinder internal chamber and through an opening  88  in hydraulic cylinder  78  to second clamping member  60 . Opening  88  includes a sealing means (not shown) that extends circumferentially between rod  82  and opening  88  to facilitate sealing the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  78 . Rod  82  is moveable within opening  88  along central axis  86 .  
      When pressure is applied to the hydraulic fluid within the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  78 , the piston slides along central axis  86  in the direction of second clamping member  60 , causing rod  82  to move through opening  88  along central axis  86  in the direction of second clamping member  60 . When rod  82  has traveled a distance along central axis  86 , rod  82  contacts second clamping member  60  and continuing travel of rod  82  along central axis  86  in the direction of second clamping member  60  causes second clamping member  60  to rotate about axis  64  from the ‘unclamped’ position to the ‘clamped’ position. When pressure is removed from the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  78 , deformation of the sealing means for opening  88 , caused by the movement of rod  82  within opening  88 , biases rod  82  to move within opening  88  along central axis  86  and away from second clamping member  60 . Furthermore, the second clamp biasing mechanism biases pin  69  to rotate about axis  64  in a direction away from first clamping member  58 , thereby causing second clamping member  60  to rotate about axis  64  in a direction away from first clamping member  58 . Accordingly, when pressure is removed from the hydraulic fluid within the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  78 , second clamping member  60  rotates about axis  64  from the ‘clamped’ position to the ‘unclamped’ position.  
      Biasing mechanism  62  is fixedly coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  using any suitable coupling means. In one embodiment, biasing mechanism  62  is coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  using threaded bolts and threaded nuts. In another embodiment biasing mechanism  62  is coupled to dovetail clamp assembly  54  using threaded bolts and threaded holes in dovetail clamp assembly  54 . At least a portion of dovetail  14  is received within a portion of biasing mechanism  62 . Furthermore, at least a portion of dovetail  14  is received within a portion of first clamping member  58 .  
      Blade  10  loaded into fixture assembly  50  along an axis  89 . Because blade  10  is loaded into fixture assembly  50  along axis  89 , rather than an axis  91  that is perpendicular to axis  89 , a small amount of travel of rod  82  along central axis  64  can be maintained. When blade  10  is loaded into fixture assembly  50 , dovetail  14  is received within dovetail clamp assembly  54 . Biasing mechanism  62  deforms to allow a portion of dovetail  14  to be received within a portion of biasing mechanism  62  and a portion of first clamping member  58 . After dovetail  14  is received within biasing mechanism  62  and first clamping member  58 , biasing mechanism  62  biases dovetail  14  against first clamping member  58  thereby securing dovetail  14  against first clamping member  58 . By securing dovetail  14  against first clamping member  58 , biasing mechanism  62  causes dovetail  14  to be frictionally coupled with first clamping member  58  such that dovetail  14  remains in position with respect to first clamping member  58  while under the bias of biasing mechanism  62  and prior to clamping with second clamping member  60 .  
      When secured against first clamping member  58 , biasing mechanism  62  biases dovetail  14  in a position that facilitates accurate manufacturing of blade  10  and retains dovetail  14  in the position while second clamping member is in the ‘unclamped’ position. Once dovetail  14  is secured against first clamping member  58 , second clamping member  60  is rotated to the ‘clamped’ position to fixedly secure dovetail  14  in position for manufacturing of blade  10 .  
      Although biasing mechanism  62  is herein described and illustrated in the exemplary manner, it will be understood that biasing mechanism  62  may be any other suitable shape and/or type of biasing mechanism that secures dovetail  14  against first clamping member  58  to thereby align dovetail  14  into a position facilitating accurate manufacturing of blade  10  and retain dovetail  14  in the position facilitating accurate manufacturing of blade  10  while second clamping member is in the ‘unclamped’ position. In one embodiment, biasing mechanism  62  is a spring. For example, in one embodiment biasing mechanism  62  is a helical spring. In another embodiment, biasing mechanism  62  is a plate spring. In yet another embodiment, biasing mechanism  62  is a leaf spring.  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of dovetail second clamping member  60  in the ‘clamped’ position. To facilitate accurate manufacturing of blade  10 , second clamping member  60  is rotated from the ‘unclamped’ position (shown in  FIG. 4 ) to the ‘clamped’ position while dovetail  14  is secured against first clamping member  58  by biasing mechanism  62 . In one embodiment, the shape of a portion of second clamping member  60  is complimentary to the profile of dovetail  14  such that at least a portion of dovetail  14  is received within a portion of second clamping member  60 . As described above, when pressure is applied to the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  78 , actuation of rod  82  causes second clamping member  60  to rotate from the ‘unclamped’ position to the ‘clamped’ position.  
      When second clamping member  60  is in the ‘clamped’ position, dovetail  14  is frictionally coupled with first clamping member  58  and second clamping member  60  such that dovetail  14  remains in position with respect to first clamping member  58 , second clamping member  60 , and fixture  52  while second clamping member  60  is in the ‘clamped’ position. The portions of second clamping member  60  and first clamping member  58  that are complimentarily shaped with respect to the profile of dovetail  14  are configured such that when dovetail  14  is received within second clamping member  60  and first clamping member  58 , dovetail  14  is fixedly secured between first clamping member  58  and second clamping member  60  in a position with respect to fixture  52 , thus facilitating accurate manufacturing of blade  10 . More specifically, the force applied to dovetail  14  by first clamping member  58  and second clamping member  60  while second clamping member  60  is in the ‘clamped’ position is sufficient to maintain dovetail  14  in position to facilitate accurate manufacturing of blade  10  and without distorting the profile and/or features of blade  10 .  
      Referring again to  FIG. 2 , tip shroud clamp assembly  56  includes a component locator  90 , a clamping member  92 , herein referred to as third clamping member  92 , and a shroud work support lever  93  that is coupled to tip shroud clamp assembly  56 . Shroud work support lever  93  facilitates supporting blade  10  during manufacturing of blade  10 . Component locator  90  includes a coolant guide  94  that includes a plurality of grooves (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) in a surface  96  of component locator  90 . Cooling guide  90  directs coolant from a coolant source (not shown) to blade  10  during manufacturing of blade  10 . In an alternative embodiment, cooling guide  94  includes a plurality of passageways extending through a body  98  of component locator  90 . It will be understood that coolant guide  94  may be configured in any manner such that coolant guide  94  directs coolant to blade  10  during manufacturing of blade  10 .  
      Component locator  90  is fixedly coupled to tip shroud clamp assembly  56  such that component locator  90  does not move with respect to fixture  52 . Component locator  90  is coupled to tip shroud clamp assembly  56  using any suitable coupling means. In one embodiment, component locator  90  is coupled to tip shroud clamp assembly  56  using threaded bolts and threaded nuts. In another embodiment component locator  90  is coupled to tip shroud clamp assembly  56  using threaded bolts and threaded holes in tip shroud clamp assembly  56 . A portion  116  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) of component locator  90  is shaped complimentarily to the profile of tip shroud  28  of blade  10  such that at least a portion of tip shroud  28  of blade  10  is received within component locator  90 .  
      Third clamping member  92  is rotatably coupled to fixture  52  such that third clamping member  92  rotates with respect to fixture  52  and about an axis of rotation  100  and between a ‘clamped’ position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and an ‘unclamped’ position (not shown). When third clamping member  92  is in the ‘clamped’ position, component locator  90  and third clamping member  92  fixedly secure the blade tip shroud in a position that facilitates accurate manufacturing of blade  10  during manufacturing of blade  10 . In the exemplary embodiment, third clamping member  92  includes a pin  101  coupled thereto in any suitable manner. Pin  101  engages with a third clamping member biasing mechanism (not shown), which is coupled to tip shroud clamp assembly  54 , or alternatively fixture  52 , in any suitable manner. The third clamping member biasing mechanism biases pin  101  to rotate about axis  100  in a direction away from component locator  90 . Pin  101  and the third clamping member biasing mechanism thereby facilitate biasing third clamping member  92  to rotate from the ‘clamped’ position to the ‘unclamped’ position. In an alternative embodiment, third clamping member  92  does not include pin  101  and the third clamping member biasing mechanism directly biases third clamping member  92  from the ‘clamped’ position to the ‘unclamped’ position. In one embodiment, the third clamping member biasing mechanism is a spring.  
      Rotation of third clamping member  92  between the ‘clamped’ and ‘unclamped’ positions is driven by any suitable means. For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  and described herein, third clamping member  92  is driven by hydraulic fluid supplied from an external source to fixture assembly  50  through a hydraulic fluid supply line  102  and a supply line fitting  104  to a hydraulic cylinder  106 . Tip shroud clamp assembly  56  includes a rod  108  coupled to a piston (not shown) in an internal chamber (not shown) of hydraulic cylinder  106 . The operation of hydraulic cylinder  106  to actuate rotation of third clamping member  92  about axis  100  is substantially similar to the actuation of second clamping member  60  by hydraulic cylinder  78 . More specifically, when pressure is applied to the hydraulic fluid within the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  106 , rod  108  causes third clamping member  92  to rotate about axis  100  from the ‘unclamped’ position to the ‘clamped’ position. When pressure is removed from the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  106 , rod  108  is biased away from third clamping member  92  and the third clamping member biasing mechanism biases pin  101  to rotate about axis  100  in a direction away from component locator  90 , thereby causing third clamping member  92  to rotate about axis  100  in a direction away from component locator  90 . Accordingly, when pressure is removed from the hydraulic fluid within the internal chamber of hydraulic cylinder  106 , third clamping member  92  rotates about axis  100  from the ‘clamped’ position to the ‘unclamped’ position.  
      In the exemplary embodiment, third clamping member  92  includes a semi-cylindrical opening  110  extending through third clamping member  92  along axis  100 , and tip shroud clamp assembly  56  includes a semi-cylindrical projection  112  extending outward from a surface  114  of tip shroud clamp assembly  56  and extending along a portion of axis  100 . Semi-cylindrical projection  112  extends from surface  114  and is received within semi-cylindrical opening  110  such that third clamping member  92  is supported by semi-cylindrical projection  112 . The diameter of semi-cylindrical projection  112  is slightly smaller than the diameter of semi-cylindrical opening  110  such that third clamping member  92  is free to rotate about semi-cylindrical projection  112  and axis  100 . In one embodiment, the diameter of semi-cylindrical projection  112  is  0 . 2  inches smaller than the diameter of semi-cylindrical opening  110 . In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a bearing (not shown) is positioned between semi-cylindrical projection  112  and semi-cylindrical opening  110  to facilitate rotation of third clamping member  92  about semi-cylindrical projection  112  and axis  100 . Although third clamping member  92  is illustrated and described herein as rotatably coupled to tip shroud clamp assembly  56  in the exemplary manner, it will be understood that third clamping member  92  may be rotatably coupled to tip shroud clamp assembly  56  in any suitable manner.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of component locator  90  including coolant guide  94  and tip shroud portion  116 . Tip shroud portion  116  is shaped with respect to the profile of blade tip shroud  28  such that when blade tip shroud  28  is secured against component locator  90 , tip shroud  28  is in a position with respect to fixture  52  to facilitate accurate manufacturing of blade  10 . In one embodiment, the shape of a portion (not shown) of third clamping member  92  is complimentary to the profile of the blade tip shroud  10  such that at least a portion of the blade tip shroud is received within a portion of third clamping member  92 .  
      Blade  10  loaded into fixture assembly  50  along an axis  89 . Because blade  10  is loaded into fixture assembly  50  along axis  89 , rather than an axis  91  that is perpendicular to axis  89 , a small amount of travel of rod  108  along axis  100  can be maintained. When blade  10  is loaded into fixture assembly  50 , the blade tip shroud of blade  10  is received within tip shroud clamp assembly  56 , and dovetail clamp assembly  54  fixedly secures dovetail  14  in a position with respect to fixture  52  to facilitate accurate manufacturing of blade  10 . As blade  10  is loaded into tip shroud clamp assembly  56 , component locator  90  locates tip shroud  28  in a position to facilitate accurate manufacture of blade  10 . After the blade tip shroud of blade  10  is located by component locator  90 , third clamping member  92  is rotated from the ‘unclamped’ position to the ‘clamped’ position to fixedly secure the blade tip shroud in position to facilitate accurate manufacturing of blade  10 . In one embodiment, second clamping member  60  is rotated to the ‘clamped’ position before third clamping member  92 . In another embodiment, third clamping member  92  is rotated to the ‘clamped’ position before second clamping member  60 . In yet another embodiment, third clamping member  92  and second clamping member  60  are rotated to the ‘clamped’ position substantially simultaneously.  
      As described above, actuation of rod  108  causes third clamping member  92  to rotate from the ‘unclamped’ position to the ‘clamped’ position. When third clamping member  92  is in the ‘clamped’ position, tip shroud  28  is frictionally coupled with component locator  90  and third clamping member  92  such that tip shroud  28  of blade  10  will remain in position with respect to component locator  90 , third clamping member  92 , and fixture  52  during manufacturing. The portions of component locator  90  and third clamping member  92  that are complimentarily shaped with respect to the profile of tip shroud  28  of blade  10  are received within the respective complimentarily shaped portions of component locator  90  and third clamping member  92 . Furthermore, during manufacturing shroud work support lever  93  contacts bottom surface  30  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of tip shroud  28 . Shroud work support lever  93  facilitates fixedly securing tip shroud  28  in a position that facilitates accurate manufacturing of blade  10  by supporting bottom surface  30 . More specifically, shroud work support lever  93  facilitates preventing tip shroud  28  from flexing, and thereby distorting the profile and/or features of blade  10 , during manufacturing by supporting bottom surface  30 .  
      In one embodiment, tip shroud  28  is manufactured using a creep feed grinder to machine a profile of tip shroud  28 . Because the tip shroud profile is machined using a grinding process, a lubris coolant is directed between a grinding surface (not shown) and a surface (not shown) of tip shroud  28  being ground. Coolant grooves  118  direct the flow of coolant to fixture assembly  50  to blade  10  between the grinding surface and the surface of tip shroud  28  being ground. Although coolant guide  94  is shown and described herein as including coolant grooves  118 , it will be understood that coolant guide  94  may be configured in any manner, including for example function and structure, such that coolant guide  94  directs coolant to blade  10  between the grinding surface and the surface of tip shroud  28  being ground during manufacturing of blade  10 . Once the grinding process is complete, pressure is removed, and third clamping member  92  rotates about axis  100  from the ‘clamped’ position to the ‘unclamped’ position.  
      Fixture assembly  50  fixedly secures blade  10  in a position to facilitate accurate manufacturing of blade  10  during manufacture, without distorting the profile and/or features of blade  10 , and while providing coolant to the surface being manufactured. In addition, fixture assembly  50  aligns blade  10 , including dovetail  14  and tip shroud  28  of blade  10 , in a position facilitating accurate manufacturing of blade  10  with minimal input from an operator.  
      The above-described tool is cost-effective and highly reliable for securing a component during manufacturing. The tool permits a blade dovetail and a tip shroud to be secured during manufacturing. More specifically, the tool rigidly secures the blade dovetail and tip shroud in a position without distorting the profile and/or features of the blade. The tool may also facilitate securing a blade dovetail and tip shroud during manufacturing without the use of multiple machines, fixtures, and/or processes. Because the blade may be self-oriented once coupled to the tool, the tool requires minimal input from an operator. As a result, the tool facilitates reducing manufacturing costs in a cost-effective and reliable manner.  
      Exemplary embodiments of tool assemblies are described above in detail. The systems are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of each assembly may be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. Each tool assembly component can also be used in combination with other tool assembly components.  
      While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.