Aerospace Machining

Aerospace machining is frequently characterized by the tight tolerances and hard-to-machine metals typical of aircraft engine components, as well as the complex contours typical of both turbine blade forms and the aerostructural components making up a plane’s form. Because machined contours are so typical, five-axis machining is routine in this sector, include large-travel five-axis machine tools able to accommodate the largest aircraft structural components. Materials typical of aerospace machining include lightweight aluminum for structural members; hard and temperature-resistant metals including titanium and Inconel alloys for engine parts; and carbon-fiber composites that are both hard and lightweight for outer skins. Along with large five-axis machines, turn-mill machines and precision grinders are among the high-value machine tools routinely used in this sector.

How Precision Blanks Help This Aerospace Shop Build Better Parts
Aerospace

How Precision Blanks Help This Aerospace Shop Build Better Parts

Internal stress in thin metal parts can lead to warped components and scrapped work. Matrix Machine found a better way by sourcing precision-ground blanks from TCI Precision Metals. Here’s how that decision freed up capacity and made critical parts more predictable.

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Latest Aerospace Articles

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Medical

Star Cutter Drill Lineup Provides Smooth Cutting Operations

The line of internal coolant drills is well suited for applications in all fields where stainless steel is used, such as watchmaking, medical, aerospace, automotive and so on.

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Aerospace

Greenleaf Acquires Ceramic Cutting Tools Manufacturer

The acquisition of Haydale Ceramic Technologies increases Greenleaf’s capacity for producing precision-ground tools for customers across aerospace, automotive, energy and other high-performance industries.

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Aerospace

Shop Tour Video: Inside an Aviation & Defense Machine Shop

Grants. Software. Process consolidation. These three pillars can bring new life to a shop, enabling it to take on more complex jobs with faster turnarounds. In this shop tour, find out how MSP Manufacturing has used each pillar to solidify itself as a reliable partner for defense and aerospace companies.

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SW North America Twin-Spindle Machining Center Enables Fully Autonomous Operation

Eastec 2025: The BA 322i is well suited for machining complex aerospace components that require tight tolerances and high-quality finishes.

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Turning Machines

APSX Swiss Lathe Enables Compact Performance With Minimal Setup

PMTS 2025: The APSX-Nano enables intricate, precise cuts that are well suited for aerospace, medical and micro-mold applications.

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Aerospace

Function Over Form

While the metalworking industry includes a wide variety of machine shops, it is worthwhile remembering that the differences obscure a key commonality: they all run on human ingenuity.

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Latest Aerospace News And Updates

Toolholders

Forkardt Hardinge Swiss Workholding Provides Reliable, Consistent Performance

The company’s Swiss collets are designed to securely hold parts without marring surfaces, minimizing vibration to ensure smoother machining, enhanced accuracy and extended tool life.

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Shop Tour Video: From Garage Shop to Leading Aerospace Supplier

From repairing aircraft interiors to manufacturing medical implants, Superior Joining Technologies excels at CNC machining, TIG welding, laser welding, and NADCAP-accredited nondestructive testing. Discover how this Rockford-based company supports the aerospace industry through a combination of advanced technologies.

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Medical

Kennametal Turning Tools Enhance Small Part, Medical Machining

TopSwiss Micro Boring Solid tooling and KCU25B turning inserts are well suited for the small parts and medical machining space.

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Aerospace

AFRC, ATI Partner to Boost Aerospace Materials Innovation

ATI Inc. has joined the University of Strathclyde’s AFRC as a tier one member, aiming to develop metallic alloys that support sustainability in the aerospace sector.

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Aerospace

Grob Announces Aerospace Technology Event

At the Aerospace Technology Day event — which takes place at Grob’s facility in Bluffton, Ohio, on November 19th, 2024 — attendees will see five-axis aerospace parts machined live, be able to consult with a panel of technical experts and more.  

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Turn/Mill

How to Meet Aerospace’s Material Challenges and More at IMTS

Succeeding in aerospace manufacturing requires high-performing processes paired with high-performance machine tools. IMTS can help you find both.

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Featured Posts

Automation

The Role of Surface Finishing in Modern Manufacturing: Trends and Best Practices

You’re attending IMTS to advance your business. Regardless of your role in the manufacturing process, considering how your parts will be finished is crucial. This article can help you understand trends in surface finishing and better communicate with your finishing partners.

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Five-Axis

How a Custom ERP System Drives Automation in Large-Format Machining

Part of Major Tool’s 52,000 square-foot building expansion includes the installation of this new Waldrich Coburg Taurus 30 vertical machining center.

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Cutting Tools

Broaching Tool Technology For Lathes Used to Slot Inconel Parts

This shop finds value in using an indexable-insert-style broaching tool to create blind-hole slots in heat-treated Inconel aerospace parts on a CNC lathe.

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Aerospace

Increasing OEM Visibility to Shopfloor Operations for the Win

A former employee of General Motors and Tesla talks about the issues that led to shutdowns on factory lines, and what small- to medium-sized manufacturers can do today to win business from large OEMs.

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Aerospace

Horizontal High-Speed Machining Saves Hundreds of Work Hours

High-speed machining is the latest change at Blair-HSM South, helping this once old-fashioned shop improve productivity and morale while enabling new work.

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Turn/Mill

5 Tips for Running a Profitable Aerospace Shop

Aerospace machining is a demanding and competitive sector of manufacturing, but this shop demonstrates five ways to find aerospace success.

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MMS Leaders in CNC Machining