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Aerospace technology has always been a fascinating story. From aviation pioneers to the International Space Station and the next generation of spacecraft, the space race has been going on for years. However, there is one part of this story that is not well known: In order for us to marvel at these majestic planes and space vehicles that conquered the final frontier, someone had to first build the hardware that made it happen.

While any type of manufacturing requires great precision, the aerospace sector requires parts that are machined as precisely as possible. After all, spaceflight puts incredible stress on craft. The high performance of the spacecraft itself, combined with the rapidly changing environment the vehicle experiences, requires that each component be carefully manufactured to its specifications.

Without this level of precision, these parts could fail. Below are details on the challenges aerospace companies face and how precision aerospace part manufacturing by a skilled CNC machine shop is critical to success.

Parts Challenges for Aerospace Companies

The challenges associated with manufacturing parts for aerospace applications are many, but the ones at the top of the list revolve around quality.

Material quality

Aerospace parts may require the use of materials not commonly used in conventional manufacturing. Metals used to make aerospace components require different tempering temperatures depending on their application in aircraft and spacecraft. These materials must meet certain certifications, and not all machine shops have the expertise required to use them. For example, 6061 aluminum has differences between certified grades and canned materials. Not all machine shops are capable of using the aluminum grades required for aerospace applications.

Manufacturing quality

Designs can also be very complex and precise tolerances must be adhered to during manufacturing. This requires a high level of precision manufacturing, which not all companies can achieve. For example, 3D printing will produce high-quality parts, but they may not have the durability needed for flight. CNC machining, on the other hand, uses automated tools to precisely manufacture parts from solid materials, giving the part the strength it needs for its application.

Quality manufacturing

Another important aspect of aerospace part manufacturing is the process used in the manufacturing process. Many do not give the attention to detail required to manufacture precision parts and may even produce parts that are not 100% complete. Not only can this cause problems with the final product of the part, for precision parts suitable for the requirements of the aerospace industry, it is critical to work with a machine shop that:

Materials: The first step in making an aerospace part is to make sure the best material is used for the part. A machine shop set up for aerospace parts manufacturing should have a network of suppliers from whom they can source the highest quality materials.

Certification: The shop should also have experience working with materials certified for use in aerospace and have a solid understanding of their certification requirements. They should also know how to apply these certifications in the production of industry products and be able to obtain any certification materials needed for your project. In addition, the shop should hold a wide range of other certifications to cover the process, such as ISO9001 for quality management and first article inspection.

Process: Another important aspect of being an aerospace parts manufacturer is having a well-defined workflow for the repeatable manufacture of precision parts. To ensure the strength required for aerospace applications, parts should be CNC machined through processes such as milling and turning, which can accommodate complex geometries and tight tolerances while creating tight parts from solid materials.

Engineering: Precision parts for the aerospace industry must be produced from detailed CAD/CAM information to the highest level of quality. The best machine shops use your CAD data and the drawings you provide to capture every specified detail of the part, including unique finishing or other critical requirements. This requires the shop to have an experienced engineering team working with the manufacturing department to produce the level of precision required for aerospace parts.

Low-to-Medium Batch Production: To achieve the precision required for aerospace applications, a machine shop that operates around a low-volume production run can help ensure the highest quality. This enables companies to operate with the goal of crafting parts rather than simply fulfilling work quotas.

Shenzhen Xiehe Company is mainly engaged in the production and manufacture of non-standard precision hardware parts. It has been deeply involved in the industry for many years and has rich experience. If you have CNC processing, CNC lathe processing, service needs including aluminum, copper, stainless steel, iron, titanium alloys, plastics and other products, you can contact Xiehe, and we will provide you with an integrated solution.