Materials

In recent years, monolithic machined aluminum components have been replacing sheet metal assemblies throughout the aerospace industry. The monolithic structures are lighter, less expensive and stronger than their conventional sheet metal counterparts. Machining the components requires fewer special tools, fewer hand operations and less assembly time.

Reaming titanium is a challenging task, but new tools can give shops an edge as they battle this difficult-to-machine material.

Maximizing productivity and calculating required machining power when facemilling titanium alloys.

New cutting tool materials are required for new generation airframes.

Learn when to apply motorized, hand-held drills; fine-toothed, diamond-cut routers; compression routers and veined PCD tools to machine composite materials.

Advanced ceramics' properties make them suitable materials for medical instruments and implants, as well as for parts in medical devices. Making ceramic parts, however, requires manufacturing techniques similar to those used to make P/M parts and may require applying diamond-impregnated tools and wheels.

Choosing the right cast aluminum and aluminum alloys from among the hundreds of different grades and the many tempers in each grade requires understanding of the materials' designation system to know their compositions, tempers and properties.

Tungsten-carbide grades to use in tools for different applications.

Knowing the aluminum alloy grades allows shops to maximize productivity.

Tool material and other requirements for effective drilling of composites.