Patent ID: 7637010

Claim:
A method for machining turbine engine components from a blank, said method comprising: fixing the blank in a first position; machining, at the first position of the blank, a first pocket in the blank to create a first sidewall, a second pocket in the blank to create a second sidewall, and at least one groove between the first pocket and the second pocket to expose a portion of a third sidewall opposite the first sidewall and a portion of a fourth sidewall opposite the second sidewall; alternately repeating machining, at the first position of the blank, the at least one groove, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall to step mill the at least one groove deeper in the blank and form a third pocket that is at least partially defined by the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall such that the first sidewall and the third sidewall define a first blade and such that the second sidewall and the fourth sidewall define a second blade adjacent the first blade; and indexing the blank to a second position after the first blade and the second blade are formed.