A Study on the Manufacturing of Screw Rotors for Air-Compressors Using RTM Process

Resin Transfer Molding을 이용한 공기 압축기용 스크류로터 제작에 관한 연구

Screw rotors are core parts of screw type air compressors, compressors in refrigerating machines and super chargers of automobiles etc. They are composed of a female and a male rotors which have complex section profiles and helically swept geometry. Screw type compressors have advantages of low noise, high efficiency, less needs in maintenance etc. Usually, machining process of screw rotors requires long machining time using CNC machine designed only for screw rotors, which increase the cost of production. In this work, the screw rotors for air-compressors were manufactured with fiber reinforced epoxy composite materials by resin transfer molding process. The mold for the RTM process was made of aluminum and silicon rubber and was designed for release of helical shape products. Composite screw rotors, manufactured by RTM process, have advantages of lightweight, less cost of production, good characteristics of vibration etc.