J. Phillips, T. Esposito, Plymouth Engineered Shapes, Hopkinsville, KY

Summary: The prime aerospace companies and their subcontractors, as well as several aerospace service centers are currently using titanium extrusions in commercial and military aircraft and assemblies. Some proven applications for titanium extrusions include floor beams, seat tracks, engine pylons, pylon attach beams, chords, stiffeners, stringers, spars, longerons, belly fairings, flap and slat tracks, hinges, mounting brackets, jet engine rings and related components and space vehicle components. The total cost savings benefits of selecting the near-net extrusion process can be substantial. Extrusion provides advantages not offered by alternative methods such as forging or machining from bar or plate stock. Economic advantages include minimal tooling costs, reduced material usage, lower parts count resulting from the ability to extrude complex shapes over length in a single operation and less downstream machining and finishing. The quality benefits of extrusion include improved surface quality and superior flatness and straightness, which is especially critical for long-length structural operations. Specifying titanium near-net extrusions for high-strength structural parts and high temperature engine components can deliver significant cost and quality benefits to aerospace manufacturers.