Custom aircraft parts made from specialty plastics offer numerous benefits to the aerospace industry, with weight reduction topping the list. By converting large portions of aerostructure from metal to plastic, aerospace engineers can significantly reduce an aircraft’s weight without compromising strength. Reduction in overall weight directly impacts a plane’s performance and efficiency, with substantial savings in fuel and maintenance repair costs. Plastic custom aircraft parts can be found in cabin interiors, fuselages, airframes, wings, door fairings, and empennages (stabilizing surfaces at the tail of an aircraft), as well as clips, fasteners, turbines, propeller systems, bearing bushes, and engine housings.
At Reading Plastic, we have decades of experience producing high-quality, durable plastic parts that hold extremely tight tolerances. From seals and gears to bushings, cams, rollers and more, we can machine your custom aircraft parts from ultralight, ultrastrong plastics. All of our parts must pass a comprehensive, ISO 9001:2008-compliant quality inspection before shipping, and we are fully compliant with all FAA and Department of Defense standards.
Benefits of Plastic Custom Aircraft Parts from Reading Plastic
- Specialty plastics – Our fleet of state-of-the-art CNC equipment can easily handle the most technical advanced plastics, such as PEEK, Torlon, Vespel, acetal, Celazole PBI, and more. These plastics offer increased structural strength, weight reduction, high thermal and mechanical stability, corrosion and chemical resistance, and electrical insulation. These plastics also offer tremendous flexibility in design, holding tight tolerances similar to those of metal parts while being capable of more complex geometries.
- CNC precision – CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. Because this machining process is computer controlled, it provides a high degree of precision and repeatability, ensuring each part is identical to the last. CNC parts can hold complex three-dimensional shapes and our parts can hold tolerances of +/- .001 with surface finishes as smooth as 15Ra. As a high-end machine shop we offer CNC milling, turning, routing, and sawing, as well as die cutting and stamping.
- OEM parts for faster repairs – For commercial airlines and military aircraft alike, finding ways to reduce maintenance costs is high priority. Aircraft repair is costly in both part cost and down time: each hour that an aircraft is down costs roughly $10,000. Critical parts are not always readily available, and waiting for parts to arrive can compound costs. At Reading Plastic, we can easily replicate the OEM parts you need to get your aircraft back in the air. We can also convert metal parts into plastic, providing longer part life and in some cases reducing the need for added lubrication.
Choose Reading Plastic for Superior Custom Aircraft Parts
As a leading manufacturer of precision-engineered plastic custom aircraft parts, Reading Plastic is your source for strong, durable plastic parts that offer superior resistance to heat, wear and chemicals. If you have a project in mind, 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.
