Precision In The Heat: Measuring Jet Engine Turbine Blades With Zygo's 3D Optical Profilers

Jet engines demand precision under extreme conditions, with turbine blades operating at temperatures above 3000°F while generating thrust and maintaining structural integrity. Traditional inspection methods, often contact-based, can be slow, error-prone, and risk damaging these critical components. Accuracy, repeatability, and speed are essential for aerospace safety and performance.

Zygo’s 3D Optical Profilers provide a non-contact solution using Coherence Scanning Interferometry (CSI). This technology captures full-field, nanometer-precision measurements of turbine blade surfaces in seconds, recording millions of data points for 2D shape, thickness, surface roughness, cooling hole positions, cracks, and wear analysis. CSI supports a wide range of materials and surface conditions—from smooth to rough, flat to curved, transparent to opaque—making it ideal for inspecting single crystal superalloy blades.

Advanced features such as SureScan™, SmartSetup™, and QPSI™ Technologies ensure stability and repeatability even in production environments with vibration or airflow. Instruments like NewView™, Nexview™ NX2, Nexview™ 650, ZeGage™, and ZeGage™ Pro HR deliver high-density data quickly, enabling manufacturers to identify defects early, validate designs, and maintain compliance with aerospace standards.

For turbine blade manufacturers, Zygo’s CSI profilers go beyond measurement—they are a quality assurance enabler. By providing fast, accurate, and non-contact inspection, these instruments help maintain the performance and safety of jet engines, supporting efficient production, maintenance, and operational reliability in one of the most demanding industries.