Under the direction of a NAVAIR Phase II.5 SBIR program, Nex-Tech Aerospace was selected to partner with Third Wave Systems to optimize the machining process of a complex F-35 airframe component. The titanium article required a large volume of material removal (95%), and had high production yields and a stable existing machining process.
F-35: Phase III and Faster Delivery
THE PART
- Component workpiece material is a 7.5 x 9 x 28 inch block of Titanium-6Al-4V with a starting weight of 321 pounds
- After 242 cubic inches of material is removed, the finished part weighs 13 pounds
APPROACH
- Machining time reduced by 25% for applicable operations
- TWS engineers train Nex-Tech NC programmers and engineers on Production Module capabilities
- Nex-Tech staff use Production Module to optimize machining of component using a load-leveling approach: spikes reduced, low forces raised
- TWS and Nex-Tech conduct machining trial of six individual setups and toolpaths to establish
confidence in Production Module results
IMPACT
- Machining time reduced by 25% for applicable operations
- Component inspected and approved for shipment to prime
contractor - Production Module software purchased by Nex-Tech for
application to components for a variety of military and
commercial platforms
