While each industry offers their own unique set of challenges, the aerospace industry is particularly demanding. CNC machining aerospace parts involves complex designs, technical materials, high levels of precision and low-quantity runs with fast turnarounds. Choosing an experienced aerospace parts manufacturer is essential to getting high quality, precision aerospace parts that help your bottom line.
Challenge: The advanced engineering plastics used in aerospace machining are often difficult to machine. For example: PEEK’s high temperature resistance and high tensile strength mean it machines more like a metal than a polymer; UHMW can quickly dull cutting blades and is sensitive to heat, so it can easily become distorted if not machined properly; and glass-filled plastics such as Ultem® are extremely abrasive to cutting tools and are prone to delamination if proper cutting speeds are not maintained.
Solution: At Reading Plastic, our state-of-the-art machines can handle even the most technical plastics. Our skilled machinists optimize cutting speeds, cutting tools and coolants to ensure each plastic is machined under ideal conditions. For highly abrasive plastics, we change our cutting tools at the first sign of wear to ensure the plastic’s properties and the precision of the part aren’t compromised.
Challenge: Many aircraft parts, such as fasteners, require tight tolerances and complex designs. These specifications must be identical in each part produced and must be maintained even in extreme conditions, such as under pressurization, high loads, high temperatures and harsh chemicals.
Solution: CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. Because the process is computer controlled, it delivers a high degree of precision, accuracy and repeatability. This allows us to produce thousands of identical, intricate parts with tight tolerances of +/-.001. We’ve been machining plastics for decades, so we understand how they act in a variety of applications and can help you choose the right plastic for the job. Whether your parts need self-lubricating properties for high wear applications or high tensile strength for load bearing, we make sure your parts are up to the task.
Challenge: The aerospace industry is unique in its demand for parts because it is constantly fluctuating. Depending on when planes are being serviced or repaired, demand for a part could go from non-existent to tens of thousands overnight. Since it isn’t practical to keep thousands of every plane part on hand, aircraft companies rely on fast turnaround suppliers to keep maintenance on time and on budget. Some parts can also require low-quantity runs that can drive up repair and maintenance costs.
Solution: At Reading Plastic, we can easily CNC machine the aerospace parts you need to get your aircraft back in the air. No matter how many parts you need, our cost-effective machining ensures your budget stays on track, even with small runs. And our fast turnaround machining means your parts are delivered in weeks rather than months.
For more information on Reading Plastic’s CNC aerospace machining services, or to request a quote, contact us today at (610) 926-3245 or site2@readingplastic.com.
