Aerospace

Aerospace 15 May 2002

Boosting Productivity For Turbine Engine Part Makers

Compared with common steel, the heat-resistant super alloys (HRSAs) and other hard metals used in jet engines and ground-based turbines require far longer cycle times per part. Advanced cutting inserts can boost machining throughput with these materials, but achieving these gains requires proper tooling selection and proper implementation.

CAD/CAM 15 May 2002

Advanced CNC Programming Methods Help Manufacturer Meet Tight Deadlines

Nearly every aircraft is prone to tiny cracks that begin at holes used to insert fasteners and that, if not addressed, can eventually migrate from one hole to the next and cause structural failures.

Basics 15 Apr 2002

Empowering The Programmer

A project aimed at making military aircraft parts faster shows just how much productivity gain can come from automating the programmer's repetitive tasks.

Aerospace 15 Mar 2002

Start With Waterjet For More Effective Milling

For aircraft components machined out of plate stock, this shop roughs with abrasive waterjet before finishing with conventional milling. Removing roughing from the machining center cuts cost and lead time.

Die/Mold 15 Jan 2002

Better HSM For Big Parts

'High speed machining' is accepted and commonplace in many shops. HSM is so widely used, in fact, that its acceptance is beginning to affect the design of machine tools.

Aerospace 15 Dec 2001

Preventative Maintenance Programs Head Off Downtime Before It Starts

In today's intense marketplace, the conventional wisdom of don't fix it if it isn't broken no longer prevails as major manufacturers realize they cannot afford sudden misalignment and unplanned downtime with their major machine tools.

Metalworking Fluids 15 Dec 2001

Machine Tool Coolant Racing To Save Time And Improve Quality

As a former racecar driver, Jon Horgas is well aware that raw horsepower alone does not guarantee victory, and the fastest car does not always finish first. It takes a combination of finely tuned aerodynamics and suspension, fuel mixtures and gear ratios, driver skills and experience, a top-notch pit crew, tire composition, high quality components, and luck.

Aerospace 1 Aug 2001

Getting The Time Out Of Titanium

For Boeing engineers successful at high speed machining of aluminum, the next step is to mill faster in a more constraining metal.

Aerospace 15 Jul 2001

Machining Center Meets The Production Needs Of The Aerospace Industry

Today, Metalcraft is recognized throughout the aerospace industry as one of the foremost manufacturers of complex structural components and integrated assemblies. The company has built thousands of airframe assemblies and details for the top aerospace companies.