Sectors // Aviation

Precise milling of lightweight materials for maximum safety and quality – CNC machining centres in aviation

Aircraft manufacturing demands supreme safety standards – so the requirements placed on modern production technologies are just as high. Particularly when it comes to delivering environmental protection and safety in an economical way, there is no alternative to using lightweight materials with an integral design. Their low weight, solid and invincible properties mean they are perfect for use in aviation and for milling using CNC machines.

Common materials with an integral design that are used in aircraft manufacturing include performance materials such as lightweight aluminium, industrial thermoplastics, CFRP – carbon fibre reinforced polymers, GFRP – glass fibre reinforced polymers, honeycomb composites, lightweight honeycomb structure material, lightweight structural materials and aerostructures material.

5-axis CNC milling for the aircraft industry

To deliver the perfection that is required in aircraft manufacturing, we work with you to develop 5-axis CNC machining centres that enable you to perform efficient, economical milling. Your specifications and ideas are implemented by our engineers, tailored to suit your components and materials. For example, we develop a CNC milling machine with a rapid and clean output of parts which do not then require any more finishing following the milling process.

CNC MILLING MACHINES INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED FOR YOU

At HG GRIMME SysTech we design and build your CNC machining centre with maximum precision – we are your experienced, reliable partner from planning right through to completion. From seats and soundproofing interior trim elements, engine cowlings, acoustic elements, winglets, wing box lower covers, flaps, spoilers and droop panels through to interior lighting and turbine components: We develop the appropriate CNC machining centre for you with maximum quality.

Case study

Wanted: CNC machine for sophisticated machining of plastics

Found: 5-axis CNC gantry milling machine from HG GRIMME SysTech

Krüger Aviation, a customer of HG GRIMME SysTech, on using the 5-axis CNC machine in aviation:

“We can now process components with three and five axes on one machine,” says CTO Ingo Horster with great delight. “We can now even mill a variety of different items simultaneously and synchronously on the left and right.” A removable divider panel made of Makrolon makes it possible to set up on one side of the table while milling is performed on the other. The fact that the beam with the milling head does not move from front to back, but from left to right has also been shown to work here. This allows the operator to work without being disturbed at all while the milling process takes place on the second table side. Horster praises the machining, which is now more dynamic and more stable at the same time. In addition, despite the high milling speed, the CNC machine with a gantry design also operates so precisely in the µm range that there is no need for subsequent polishing.

CNC machine for dynamic machining with a milling head mounted on one side

An unusual sight for experts in metalworking is the very compact milling head which can rotate up to a maximum of 540 degrees and can tilt up to 365 degrees. “As the sort of high forces that are common in metalworking do not occur here, we can operate with a milling head mounted on one side,” explains Horster. “We can also use it to mill the typically intricate workpieces very dynamically because we can now tilt the head down a very long way without running the risk of the milling head colliding with the table or the holders.” The risk of collision is now much lower than it was with the previous machine.

You can find the full case study here