The Boeing Company
MONOLITHIC PRECURSOR TEST COUPONS FOR TESTING MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF METAL-INJECTION-MOLDED COMPONENTS AND METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR MAKING SUCH COUPONS

Abstract:

A method of removing flash from a gauge portion of a monolithic precursor test coupon using a flash-removal tool is provided. The flash-removal tool comprises a tool body, extending along a longitudinal tool axis, a tooth, and an engagement surface, spaced apart from the tooth along the longitudinal tool axis. The tooth projects from the tool body in a first direction and comprises a shearing surface, facing in the first direction and located an offset distance away from the longitudinal tool axis in a second direction. The method comprises steps of coupling the engagement surface of the flash-removal tool against a first precursor-coupon end of the monolithic precursor test coupon, orienting the longitudinal tool axis parallel to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the monolithic precursor test coupon, wherein the shearing surface registers longitudinally with the flash, and shearing, using the shearing surface, the flash from the gauge portion.