The Competition for Castings in Aerospace

The use of castings in aerospace has declined in recent new airplane designs. Improved efficiencies of mature processes such as high speed machining, the selection of new structural building materials, and the maturing of other near-net shaped processes are crowding the spectrum of applications where castings have typically reigned. Perhaps this niche is just being better defined. What types of applications have been successfully challenged? Where do castings continue to be the process of choice? Are there developments in casting processes, materials, or design methods that will enable them to find more application on future airplane platforms? This presentation will survey Boeing and other aerospace applications and industry developments to help answer these questions.