The economic crisis is developing into a credibility crisis. Airbus, Boeing & Co are courageously adhering to their optimistic volume ...
When the conversation turns to good, innovative locations in the aerospace industry, one place that certainly should be discussed is Switzerland. It enjoys a high reputation among those experts who know the industry well. The business friendliness ...
Founded in 1978, the Manthorpe Group, based in Ripley Derbyshire, England, produces a wide range of precision parts within three divisions. About 120 employees share the responsibility for the design of parts on their Unigraphics CAD systems for ...
The automated processing of composite materials has its perils. For example, it is very important to maintain the correct tension in the fiber tape while it is being laid over the mold. This is necessary in order to allow the machine itself to adapt to even highly demanding compaction conditions and extremely complex surface structures. [...]
The manufacture of aircraft structures and components from CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) is urgently in need of stimulus. Manual work still dominates this sector, at the expense of effectiveness and profitability. Although machine manufacturers are still struggling with some problems, progress is being made in the details: An appraisal by aerotec contributor Dr. Barbara [...]
As part of a long-term collaboration with the jet engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce Deutschland (RRD) in Oberursel, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, working together with the Chair for Laser Technology LLT at the RWTH Aachen, has developed an innovative and cost-efficient repair technique for engine components.
MTU Aero Engines is not only Germany’s leading engine manufacturer but globally the No. 1 independent provider of commercial aero engine maintenance services. At MTU’s Munich plant Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is used for high-precision machining of stator components and materials’ production.
SR Technics, headquartered at Zurich’s Kloten Airport, is currently responsible for supporting around 800 airplanes, and consequently 300 engines and roughly 78,000 components. The Swiss firm opts for EDM instead of grinding, especially for repairing honeycomb structures on jet engines. One successful step towards increased value creation.
The future of higher performance, yet more efficient aircraft and engine design and construction is being decided in the world’s materials laboratories. Marshalling high levels of creativity, the experts are committed to tapping new and unprecedented materials properties of metals.
In the aerospace industry the clocks often tick to a different beat than in other areas of machining technology. The components are very complex and difficult to machine. The materials are extremely varied and the development of new materials is fast-paced. ‘Off-the-shelf‘ cutting tools may soon turn out to be a dead end. That’s when [...]
Thanks to a high-performance tool clamping system as well as an optimised milling strategy, the engine manufacturer MTU, considerably increased productivity in the manufacturing of titanium blisks. The company succeeded in reducing the processing time by 42%, and in reduced tool costs by 76% compared to the previous processing method.
The material that airplanes are made of is still spelled “m-e-t-a-l”. Whether fuselage frame, landing flap guides or floor beams for passenger floors: first the chips fly, then the aircraft. An examination of the task definitions at system supplier Premium Aerotec shows that metal-cutting remains a core competence, and one that demands high know-how levels.
The aerospace industry is trending towards titanium: Just recently, Airbus/EADS signed an agreement for titanium deliveries with VSMPO-AVISMA, an integrated company of Russian Technologies State Corporation, up to 2020. Titanium machining represents a technological challenge for machine tool manufacturers and also opens the door to a new sales market for many companies, including the Nürtingen-based [...]
