Turning Thin-Wall Parts
One of the ongoing challenges in producing parts for the aerospace/defense markets is reducing component weight while maintaining structural strength. Intrex Aerospace has been involved in many different applications where turn thin-wall parts is a requirement. We provide precision parts for the aerospace, space, and defense industries, in an assortment of complex shapes and materials. One of the ongoing type of parts we produce are thin-walled couplers used in aircraft for transporting water, air, hydraulics, and fuel.
Because these couplers are attached to different sizes of tubing for transporting (air/water/hydraulics/fuel) within the aircraft, they require precise and consistent wall thickness. In aerospace, reducing weight plays a large factor in part design, therefore many of the parts we produce are thin-walled.
These thin-walled components vary in size, shapes, and material. Most require both machine turning and milling. Our state-of-the-art machine tools, and thirty plus years of experience with these types of components, have allowed us to enjoy a great deal of success.
Some Thin-Walled Parts May Require 5-Axis Simultaneous Machining
More and more of our parts require multiple-axis machining functions to perform the metal removal required. In the last few years, we have made significant investments in machine tools capable of performing multiple machining tasks within the frame of a single machine.
Our latest machine addition is a Mori Seiki NTX 2500. This machine has both a main and sub-spindle, and also a milling head with an automatic tool changer. It can perform full 5-axis machining simultaneously. The twin spindle design is ideal for reducing the need for extra setups, which greatly enhances part quality and machine efficiencies.
Our experience and CNC equipment give us a leg up in producing complex thin-walled machined parts. Depending on demand and volume, we can efficiently produce these types of parts on a number of different machining platforms.
Intrex Means Quality Assurance
An important aspect to being able to produce precision thin-walled machined parts is having the ability to properly measure them. We have years of experience in machining and measuring.
Producing machined components for aerospace, space, and defense requires a high degree of quality control. At Intrex Aerospace, we have in place quality assurance processes that guarantee quality parts. We also provide our customers with detailed documented information on the steps we take to ensure quality throughout production.
We’ve invested in a quality management software package, which is integrated with our Epicor system. This software allows us to track a range of quality control metrics, such as CPk and SPCs. We can also use it to generate reports that allow our customers to see how we’ve improved quality and reduced waste throughout the production of their precision components.
Our entire shop is flowed through our AS 9100 quality system. Internal to our flow process, we utilize CNC CMMs in work cells on our shop floor, as well as in our climate-controlled quality lab. We use multiple quality metrics (IQS, TQM, SPC) to monitor and measure our parts as they flow through our shop. Our PPMs average less than 100. All quality and production are monitored through our Epicor ERP/MRP system.
For more information on our CNC milling and turning services, contact Intrex Aerospace today.