Abstract: A clamp for clamping a workpiece such as a forging of an aerofoil component comprises a support body 24 to which a clamping member 26 is hinged. The clamping member 26 has a workpiece clamping element 54 having pads 58 for engagement with the workpiece. The workpiece clamping element 54 is pivotable relatively to the clamping member 26 by means of a ball and socket connection including a ball element 40. This enables the workpiece clamping element 54 to self-align with the profile of the workpiece, for example with a surface of the blade 6 of the aerofoil component. In an alterative embodiment, the workpiece clamping element 54 is formed integrally with the clamping member 26, but is connected thereto by a necked region of the clamping member 26 which permits flexure of the workpiece clamping element 54 relatively to the clamping member 26.

Abstract: A clamp for clamping a workpiece such as a forging of an aerofoil component comprises a support body 24 to which a clamping member 26 is hinged. The clamping member 26 has a workpiece clamping element 54 having pads 58 for engagement with the workpiece. The workpiece clamping element 54 is pivotable relatively to the clamping member 26 by means of a ball and socket connection including a ball element 40. This enables the workpiece clamping element 54 to self-align with the profile of the workpiece, for example with a surface of the blade 6 of the aerofoil component.

Abstract: An electrode assembly (10) for an electrochemical machining apparatus comprises a plurality of electrodes (18,20) for location adjacent a workpiece (12) to be machined, at least one of the electrodes (18,20) being movable towards the workpiece (12) during an electrochemical machining operation. The moveable electrodes (18,20) have a machining face (19,21) shaped to a desired contour and at least one side member (32,34) arranged to move with the electrodes (18,20) as the electrodes approach the workpiece (12). The side members (32,34) are fixed to and move with the electrodes (18,20) at all times during the electrochemical machining operation.

Abstract: A method of electrochemically machining a workpiece made of electrically conductive material so as to provide a radius on an edge of the workpiece comprises, (a) providing a cathodic tool comprising a cathode section sandwiched between two anode sections and separated therefrom by insulation, (b) locating the tool adjacent to but separate from the workpiece so that the cathode section is positioned centrally over the edge of the workpiece to be radiused and the anode sections lie facing opposite sides of the edge, (c) causing electrolyte to flow between the tool and the workpiece, (d) applying a cathodic voltage to the cathode section, (e) applying preselected anodic voltages simultaneously to the workpiece and the anode sections so that electrical field null points between the cathodic tool and the workpiece lie either side of the edge to be radiused, and (f) varying the electrical field between the tool and the workpiece so as to cause the null points in the electrical field to move with respect to each oth