Precision Aerospace Manufacturing Solutions by HLH
From choosing suitable material to precision sheet metal fabrication, fabricating aerospace sheet metal parts can be challenging.
Why Fabricate Sheet Metal Parts for Aerospace Industry
From choosing suitable material to precision sheet metal fabrication, fabricating aerospace sheet metal parts can be challenging.
The best part, today’s guide explores all fundamental facts about aerospace sheet metal fabrication. Whether you want to choose a suitable material, fabrication technique or understand practical applications – all information you are looking for is right here.
Why Fabricate Sheet Metal Parts for Aerospace Industry
First, aerospace sheet metal fabrication involves manipulating sheet metal to make aircraft parts and components.
Recently, many aircraft manufacturers, such as Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Airbus, Leonardo, Boeing, and Raytheon, use different sheet metal fabrication techniques.
It is due to:
Low production cost for aircraft parts
fabricating aircraft parts results in low production cost, which is the ultimate goal of every airplane manufacturer.
Fast production of aircraft parts
you can produce parts quickly. This makes repairs and producing new planes faster.
Easy to customize plane parts
aerospace industry requires many customized parts and components. With aerospace sheet metal fabrication, you can produce virtually any part and component depending on the client’s requirements.
Controlling the quality of aircraft parts
by adopting precision sheet metal fabrication, you can control quality of all parts in the aerospace industry. Fabricating aerospace sheet metal parts uses CNC machines and strict quality control measures. Additionally, sheet metal fabrication does not interfere with the inherent properties of aerospace materials. The materials will maintain their mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. Recently, many aircraft manufacturers, such as Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Airbus, Leonardo, Boeing, and Raytheon, use different sheet metal fabrication techniques.
Choosing Aerospace Material for Fabrication Processes
Aerospace requires durable, corrosion resistance, and lightweight materials, unlike sheet metal fabrication industries.Therefore, choosing a suitable material is paramount before starting any aerospace sheet metal fabrication process.Today, some popular materials you can use in the industry include:
Stainless steel like the SS 17-4 PH
Titanium such as the Ti-6Al-4V
Aluminum – the most common aluminum alloys for aircraft construction are 6061, 7075, and 7475-02
Copper and brass alloys
Of course, there are other composite materials you may fabricate for various engine parts. Therefore, you will choose a suitable material depending on aerospace sheet metal parts. A good material for aircraft should have a high strength-to-weight ratio.
Fabricating aircraft parts requires precise, repeatable, and reliable processes. Therefore, whether you are cutting, forming, or drilling parts, the process must guarantee the highest accuracy.