The National Institute of Standards and Technology Researches Aerospace Parts Precision

In aerospace parts manufacturing, it is often considered difficult by machine shops of all sizes to find an expert source for high-speed machining information and laboratory and testing service for metrology. Yet, an answer has been around for 100 years.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a laboratory under the Department of Commerce which formerly was the National Bureau of Standards since it began in 1901. NIST helps companies to better understand the potential of effective processes, to model them and to control them so they can be used more efficiently.

NIST began officially looking at aerospace manufacturing seven years ago, though other individual aerospace projects went on prior to that date. More recently, the group started a high-speed machining program.

In aerospace manufacturing, NIST is involved in several areas of research due to the continuing challenges brought about by demands on manufacturer and supplier processes and production times. And, the organization offers a variety of technical assistance to U.S. aerospace firms who want to enhance their competitiveness in the global marketplace.

One area is mechanical and dimensional measurements, including engineering metrology techniques and standards. The technically complex task of aerospace design and manufacturing needs uniform standards to ensure swift production and state-of-the-art equipment and parts.

Materials and materials processing studies are ongoing which constantly review the innovative use of ceramics and other metals to provide strong, lightweight and durable aerospace parts. Manufacturing processes on characterization and performance improvements on machining systems as well as predictive process engineering are also underway.

High-speed machining of stronger materials such as titanium and hardened steels is a challenge to many machine shops, much more so than the more versatile aluminum. But there is a range of materials between the hard materials and aluminum that is being researched for its high-speed machinability.

Tool wear is also being studied by NIST on many of these light and medium weight metals. Initial results show that a window of speeds is available for individual application consideration relative to high-speed machining. And, these results also show that as long as a machine stays within the speed window, reasonable tool wear and quality machining are both still possible.

Surface speeds in nickel-aluminum-bronze are about 15 meters per second with interrupted cutting. With a three-quarter inch cutter, which translates to 15,000 rpm, this is extremely fast for machining nickel-aluminum-bronze. NIST indicates through these studies that the future of expanding speeds in high-speed machining with various materials is just beginning.

For additional information about NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Research, contact them by phone at 301-975 NIST (6478). Or, visit their Website at www.nist.gov.

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