The main task of the aerofoils is to provide the aircraft with the necessary lift. Individual components machined here include the pylon bracket, made from titanium, the wing box, made from composite materials, and the reinforcing ribs, made of aluminium.
In a structural component such as the wing box, our tools are used to machine the holes, the pocket contour and the pocket bottoms, etc. It is particularly important here to provide a high surface finish quality and the highest degree of stability.
We also develop a machining solution for our customers which is tailored to the machining of the complex, thin-walled aerofoil ribs made of aluminium and uses high-speed PCD mills.
01. Walter Xtra-tec® Shoulder Mill F4042.
02. Walter High Performance Cutter F2330.
03. Walter Xtra-tec® Slotting Cutter F4153.
04. Walter Xtra-tec® Point Drill.
05. Walter Boring (MEDIUM).
06. Walter Precision (MEDIUM).
07. Walter Titex Alpha® NI.
08. Walter Prototyp Prototex® TiNi.
09. Walter Prototyp Thread Milling Cutter.
Flap Tracks
Flaps provide the necessary lift to the aerofoils during aircraft landing and are located on the rear edge of the aerofoils.
Various materials are used in the manufacture of flaps. The flap track may consist of 15-5 PH stainless steel, Carpenter C465 or titanium 6Al-4V. In newer aircraft, titanium/aluminium or CFRP/titanium combinations are also used.
The machining (pocket and contour milling) is generally carried out on CNC mill centres or multi-spindle portal milling machines. Our Tiger•tec® Silver PVD tools are the right tools for long tool life and optimal dimensional stability.
01. Walter Xtra-tec® Helical Cutter F2338F.
02. Walter High Performance Cutter F4030.
03. Walter Prototyp Protostar® TI40.
04. Walter Prototyp Protostar® TI45.
05. Walter Titex X-treme Inox.
06. Walter Prototyp Proto-max™ Inox.
07. Walter Xtra-tec® Insert Drill B4214.
08. Walter Reamer R4060.
09. Walter Prototyp ConeFit™ Milling Tools.
Wing Ribs
The wing ribs are structural components within the wing. Along with the longerons, they form the frame for the wing skin. Each aerofoil rib has different dimensions and is constructed differently. Aluminium and CFRP are the most frequently used materials for these fairly unstable and sensitive components.
Our customers rely on HPC and HSM aluminium machining using insert mills, solid carbide mills and, occasionally, PCD mills. CFRP materials are machined using PCD-coated mills or PCD tools. During machining, due to the instability of the material, maximum process reliability is necessary for contour and pocket milling.