Aircraft are very complex machines that require a mix of large metal frame pieces and small intricate work. To build these aircraft and keep them flying, an aerospace machine shop is a vital resource. These shops can provide a variety of services for the creation of aircraft and support equipment using a variety of state-of-the-art tools.
About the Aerospace Industry
The aerospace industry is the broad term that includes all flying machines, from spacecraft and satellites to commercial airlines and military drones. The market is comprised of a mix of military, government, and private companies. Companies in the aerospace industry can specialize in one particular market, or create aircraft and equipment for multiple markets and entities.
What an Aerospace Machine Shop Can Do
A machine shop traditionally fabricates metal parts, both big and small. The quality control standards for the aerospace industry are very tight, as any error or deviation from tolerances could lead to a catastrophic accident. For this reason, a machine shop in this industry needs to be capable of doing precision work, making perfect cuts and boring precise holes in pieces so that they fit the exact specifications needed.
Aircraft also need to be light, so an aerospace machine shop is capable of working with lighter metals and alloys, such as aluminum, while still creating the tight tolerances needed. For weight reduction, a machine shop should also be capable of making thin-walled pieces. To serve the aerospace industry, a machine shop will be able to create unique prototypes and mass-produce key parts. A machine shop will also often provide finishing services, such as anodizing, coating, kitting, lubrication and assembly.
Tools Normally Used in an Aerospace Machine Shop
A modern CNC machine shop, particularly one serving the aerospace industry, will use a variety of machines. There will certainly be lathes, first off, whether 2-axis, 4-axis or 5-axis. There will also probably be drilling and boring equipment, and it will all be coordinated with the CNC controller.
Sometimes there will be multi-function integrated machines and other times there will be a sequence of separate machines linked through the controller. The instructions for the creation of a given piece will be delivered via a computer design program such as AutoCAD.
