The demanding work of the Aerospace Industry is well-suited to the strengths of our company. We have effectively eliminated the need for costly, time consuming ring-lapping of Valve Spool components by our ability to hold diameter size, roundness and cylindricity to sub-micron levels with our new precision grinding equipment.
Our knowledge of abrasives and wide variety of wheels on-hand also allow us to match the best grinding wheel with a particular application - helping to cut cycle times, and more importantly, maintain the surface integrity of heat sensitive materials.
Case Studies
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Spool/Sleeve Actuators for Boeing Aircraft
High precision shaft
Missile Wing Pins
Project: Spool/Sleeve Actuators for Boeing Aircraft
Problem: Part match-fit and cylindricity requirements made vendors willing to accept the responsibility of holding print tolerances scarce.
Material: 440C HT 58 RC min
Critical Dimensions:
Match-fit clearance: hold match fit clearance spool/sleeve to .00005". The resulting cylindricity on both spool and sleeve necessarily were near .000025".
4 Ra surface finish
Resolution: Match-fit of .00005’’ was attained for customer, and all parts passed aircraft standard inspection. Project was completed and customer was awarded future orders for multiple units over the next 5 yrs.
Grinding discipline(s) that contributed to resolution:
Project: High precision shaft
Problem: Company in California could not find a local source for high-end aerospace shaft work.
Material: 440C HT 55 RC min
Critical Dimensions:
All diameters ground - two (2) with tolerance of .0001” total
Perpendicularity to .00002” (20 millionths) and concentricity to .000025” (25 millionths) on all ground surfaces.
4 Ra surface finish
Resolution: parts were ground to all specs per print. The customer not only provides the above part to the end user on a repetitive basis, but also receives first right of refusal on all similar high end projects.
Grinding discipline(s) that contributed to resolution:
Project: Missile Wing Pins
Problem: A Tier-1 defense contractor rejected parts from their primary vendor for a high-end precision pin used to affix fins onto missiles. The rejection of the pins caused a delay in shipment of missiles to The Persian Gulf, and left them with no source for the pins after the primary vendor lost approved status. The Tier-1 contractor needed to ship missiles within 2 weeks otherwise late delivery penalties would be assessed.
Material: 440C HT 55Rc min
Critical Dimensions:
Diameter .19000 +/- .00003” (30 millionths)
Flats and specific nose configuration
Parts needed to be manufactured "complete" in a 1-2 week time frame!
Resolution: Parts were manufactured complete in 10 days from purchasing material, blanking, HT and all grinding operations. All features were ground, including nose angle and nose radius. The diameter sizes needed to be recorded and the parts bagged & tagged to match the parts up for press fitting into existing holes in missile wings. The customer was able to keep to their quoted delivery schedule and avoid penalty.
Grinding discipline(s) that contributed to resolution:
