Aerospace fasteners might seem like a small part of the design, but they play a critical role in whether or not an aircraft arrives at its destination in one piece. Commercial planes, rockets, military jets, helicopters, spaceships, satellites and weapons systems depend on strong, precise fasteners.
When it comes to manufacturing fasteners, we’re equipped to help companies with diverse needs. In addition to manufacturing fasteners in all grades of stainless steel and aluminum, as well as brass and copper, we can machine fasteners from advanced plastics to meet unique requirements.
In this blog, learn more about why opting for aerospace fasteners in an advanced plastic may be in your best interest.
Aerospace Fasteners: How Plastic Gives You An Edge
“Fasteners” entail the nut or pin that forms a bolt used to connect several components, which might include stiffeners, flanges, stringers, flanges, skins, rubs, shrouds and other parts.
We’re experienced machining fasteners from advanced plastics like Torlon, VESPEL, nylon, acetal, PEEK, Rulon, Celazole, Arolon and more. Here are just a few of the benefits of machining custom fasteners from materials like these:
- Lighter weight. In aerospace, it’s desirable to reduce airframe weight as much as possible to improve fuel economy and lower operating costs. As a frame of reference, a material like Torlon is 50% lighter than aluminum, 69% lighter than titanium, and 83% lighter than stainless steel. An investment in plastic fasteners may be recouped later in significant fuel savings.
- Corrosion and chemical resistance. Many advanced plastics are more resistant to corrosion and chemicals than metals. The plastics we machine are often unaffected by chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as the majority of acids at most temperatures. With fewer corrosion-related breakdowns, you can predict a reduction in replacement and labor costs.
- Strength and durability. Despite being lighter, many plastic fasteners are just as strong if not stronger than their metal counterparts. This gives them the ability to withstand higher torque loads and improve the structural operation of the craft.
- Flame resistance. Plastic fasteners can be essential in applications in which flammability is a major factor. Often, fasteners machined from advanced plastics are more likely to meet requirements in tests of flammability, toxic gas emission, and smoke density than their metal counterparts.
Contact Us For a Free Estimate Today!
Start the conversation today by calling (610) 926-3245 or requesting a quote online. With clientele spanning the globe and experience meeting the strictest compliance standards, we’re confident we can machine you a solution.
