STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

According to Chris Harland, the A380 Wing Rib Project Manager at AIRBUS in, the United Kingdom, the nature of this business is changing. "The trend to monolithic parts is increasing. We must achieve economic run quantities of a single piece. It is now about process control due to high cost of individual pieces. Large batches and delays in inspection are a thing of the past due to the high potential cost of quality. It is no good to say we will inspect it later." ...   Read more

There is one key challenge in the machining of titanium today—fast metal removal rates (MRR) with reasonable tool life. Fortunately, recent advances in machine tool and tooling technology have made the goal of high MRR with longer tool life possible. As a result, manufacturers can now produce high-quality titanium components with shorter cycle times, increased tool life, and higher shop productivity....   Read more

The technical advances taking place in the aerospace manufacturing industry are enabling manufacturers to look beyond the physical limitations of yesterday's machining and towards tomorrow's possibilities. Machining is the cornerstone of the modern aerospace industry and it has evolved to meet the demands of a frequently changing market. Although the basic concepts remain the same, a constant effort is made toward improving machining techniques and processes, thus reducing operational costs....   Read more