FOR MANY YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASING NEED TO MACHINE SMALL DIAMETER DEEP HOLES IN PARTS SUCH AS GAS TURBINE BLADES. SINCE THE 1960S THE STEM PROCESS HAS BEEN EMPLOYED AS AN ECONOMIC PRODUCTION PROCESS TO DRILL THESE HOLES IN SUPERALLOY PARTS. THE PROCESS HAS PROVEN TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO BE ADAPTED TO THE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX DEMANDS REQUIRED BY TURBINE BLADE DESIGNERS.
