Aerospace is an important support for the manufacturing industry. From development to finished products, aerospace manufacturing plays the most important role. What aerospace manufacturing technologies are used? How to find the right materials for aerospace parts? In this article, we will introduce common aerospace manufacturing methods, materials, inspection and quality control.
Aerospace Manufacturing Technology
Once the part design is approved, production can begin. The manufacturing process shall be selected according to the production volume and the required delivery time.
Additive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing (AM) refers to the process of creating physical components from a virtual 3D computer model by adding materials (usually layered). Common additive manufacturing technologies include 3D printing, sheet lamination, material extrusion, etc. Aerospace is one of the pioneer industries of additive manufacturing, which is characterized by small batch and manufacturer specific adaptability. Additive manufacturing can be used to create unique geometries and lattice structures that reduce weight and contribute to heat dissipation. Manufacturing semi hollow parts with advanced materials can reduce weight while maintaining strength, which is in line with the development trend of aerospace products and is also an excellent technology. Additive manufacturing is designed for small quantities of aerospace parts,
cnc machining
The accuracy of aircraft is crucial. From the fuselage to small parts, CNC machining services can accurately produce specific aviation parts and tools. For example, CNC machines can even create almost invisible parts inside the engine, or modify the wings of an aircraft extremely precisely to ensure that the wings work efficiently. CNC machining is a good choice when the finished parts need additional finishing accuracy, or require accurate dimensions and good surface finish.
Materials of aviation parts
Based on the unique characteristics and requirements of aircraft structures, complex parts made of lightweight materials are the first choice, thus determining which materials are suitable for the industry. With the development of modern technology, more and more alternative materials have emerged to make lighter, more aerodynamic aircraft that can withstand more extreme environmental conditions, such as new composites and alloys. Here are some popular aerospace materials.
– Stainless steel: Stainless steel 17-4 PH is widely used for aerospace CNC processing or 3D printing because of its high strength, good corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties at temperatures up to 600 ° F.
– Aluminum: With its high strength to weight ratio, aluminum is an ideal choice for supporting high load aircraft housings and supports. In addition, it is easy to process and cost-effective. For nearly a century, the aerospace industry has relied on aluminum to make parts. The most commonly used aluminum alloy in aerospace is 7075 aluminum, which is as strong as steel, with good fatigue strength and average workability.
– Titanium: Titanium is a combination of light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance. Today's commercial aircraft use much more titanium than previously designed aircraft. Titanium parts are usually used to manufacture the fastening components, fuselage and landing gear of aircraft such as aircraft jet engines and spacecraft, as well as engine components including disks, blades, shafts and shells. Titanium 6AL-4V alloy accounts for almost 50% of all alloys used in aircraft. Aerospace components made of titanium consume less fuel using a high weight to strength ratio.
– Inconel: a nickel chromium superalloy, usually used for 3D printing of rocket engine components and other aerospace applications requiring high temperature resistance.
– Composite materials: including carbon fiber, glass and aramid reinforced epoxy resin. The composite materials are light in weight and can be used to manufacture fuel efficient aircraft. They can also withstand high resistance and fatigue and are suitable for making wings.
Precision machining of aerospace cnc parts
Aerospace inspection and quality control
Inspection must be carried out after the manufacturing process, especially for aerospace parts. In the aspect of quality control in the aerospace industry, each small part shall meet specific quality standards and certification. The most important certification in aerospace is AS9100D. AS9100D is an aerospace industry quality standard adopted from the ISO 9000/ISO 9001 standard.