Improving production capability, buy-to-fly ratio and cost of components for mid-sized aircraft using Hot Form Quench technology (HFQ®)
Improving production capability, buy-to-fly ratio and cost of components for mid-sized aircraft using Hot Form Quench technology (HFQ®)
Monday, May 24, 2021: 12:50 PM
The aircraft market is seeing a shift away from large carriers such as the A380 towards mid-sized aircraft such as the 737 and A320. The trend has meant production volumes of mid-sized aircraft are due to increase significantly. This puts production pressure on existing manufacturing technologies such as superplastic forming and machine-from-solid and opens up new opportunities for mass manufacturing technologies, which become financially viable at the higher production volume.
The talk will give practical examples of the re-design of metallic parts from existing production methods towards HFQ. Both pros and cons will be considered, such as design flexibility and the break-even point. New opportunities will be highlighted for the development of high-strength and high temperature aluminium alloys and the associated forming routes, as well as the challenges these will bring such as achieving required fatigue properties.
The talk will give practical examples of the re-design of metallic parts from existing production methods towards HFQ. Both pros and cons will be considered, such as design flexibility and the break-even point. New opportunities will be highlighted for the development of high-strength and high temperature aluminium alloys and the associated forming routes, as well as the challenges these will bring such as achieving required fatigue properties.