Patent ID: 8516676

Claim:
A method of fixturing a plurality of dissimilar aerofoil assemblies, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a datum feature on a root portion of each of the aerofoil assemblies, wherein each datum feature is of an identical form and dimension and protrudes from the root portion, and then b) locating the datum feature of a first aerofoil assembly in a complementary fixture to secure the first aerofoil assembly; c) performing at least one manufacturing step on the secured first aerofoil assembly, while the first aerofoil assembly is wholly supported by the location of the datum feature of the first aerofoil assembly in the complementary fixture; d) removing the first aerofoil assembly from the fixture; e) locating the datum feature of a second aerofoil assembly in the complementary fixture to secure the second aerofoil assembly; f) performing at least one manufacturing step on the secured second aerofoil assembly, while the second aerofoil assembly is wholly supported by the location of the datum feature of the second aerofoil assembly in the complementary fixture; and g) removing the second aerofoil assembly from the fixture.