Custom Titanium Part Manufacturing for the Aerospace Industry
Today, titanium and its various alloys are commonly used in both military and commercial aircraft, and spacecraft. Titanium components can be found in both airframe and engine assemblies. Landing gear, fasteners, passenger seats, engine frames, engine fan blades or any application that requires corrosion and heat resistance are commonly made from titanium. Titanium replaces aluminum on parts that come in contact with carbon fiber to prevent galvanic corrosion.
Because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, titanium in commercial aircraft improves fuel efficiency and lowers operating costs. Lower reciprocating mass makes titanium an excellent choice for rotating parts in aircraft engines.
Three Processes to Match Your Unique Needs
For either military or commercial aircraft or spacecraft, it’s important to get things done right. Here at TriTech, we have built out three different processes for part manufacturing, completely done in-house, so that you get the most efficient and effective service and product.
These processes include:
- 3D Printing (Binder Jetting): Optimal for Tooling, Low Volume Capability, Part Complexity, Ease of Prototype, Speed to Market, and Customisation
- Investment Casting: Best for Larger Part Capability
- Metal Injection Molding: Ideal for Part Cost and the Optimal Surface Roughness
Most titanium part manufacturers will only offer one process, maybe two. That means they don’t have the options available to match you with the right choice to match your needs. Our experts work with you to determine the best method to best serve you.
Aerospace Titanium Part Manufacturing FAQs
Q: How can a titanium MIM manufacturing company handle complex net shape parts?
A: For complex parts, TriTech uses detailed computer-modeled flow analysis to make sure the material injects correctly to fill the die cavity with no porosity or variation in density throughout the part. This ensures uniformity of the injected titanium alloy.
Q: How do I know which manufacturing process is the right fit for my titanium net shape part production needs?
A: There are too many variables to consider for a customer to make this decision on their own. Experts at TriTech guide customers to the right production process. The easiest way will be to look for a titanium parts manufacturer that offers a number of processes. One that only offers investment casting will always think that investment casting is the best option. But, a titanium parts manufacturer like TriTech that offers investment casting, 3D printing and metal injection molding will have multiple manufacturing processes and can match the best production method to the part.
Q: What systems do titanium part manufacturers use to avoid issues and provide efficient production?
A: To ensure manufactured parts will meet the tight specifications for parts, customers need to ask about the manufacturing technology and quality programs that are used in the facility. For example, TriTech Titanium Parts implemented an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that helps identify potential manufacturing bottlenecks in advance and helps reduce lead times. The ERP system also displays control charts and gives visibility to key process parameters that can be shared with customers.