Precision in machining position

Even if the aircraft parts to be manufactured are significantly lighter, the tables of the sub-assembly manufacturer have to cope with a high weight. This is because the components are first mounted on a large steel clamping cube and a fixture attached to it to produce the landing gear mounts that are later attached to the wing spar. This ensures high stability during the subsequent milling of the final contour. "The entire structure of the pallet with the clamping cube and the parts to be manufactured can weigh up to 28 tons and must be brought into the required machining position with an accuracy of five hundredths," explains Christian Mäusle, tool technologist in the bulk machining department at Premium Aerotec.

As his company has been manufacturing the suspensions for the main landing gear from titanium for several years, considerable forces are required during milling. "Not every manufacturer can design machine tools for such loads," emphasizes Mäusle. "The requirements were correspondingly complex," reports Roberto Rebecchi, Service Manager at MCM Germany. "We had to achieve a very high load capacity, maximum precision, high torque and a very advanced clamping system."

The long-standing partner Peiseler had already been involved in the design of the machine and had contributed with great flexibility and extraordinary expertise. "For us, there was no alternative to their rotary table with these excellent properties," emphasizes Rebecchi. For machining the highly complex titanium components in the Airbus A350 and A380 programs, "the Peiseler rotary tables are ideally suited as an important component of the MCM machines," adds Natascha Gürtner, Project Manager Machine and Plant Investment at Premium Aerotec.

Parts handling at the highest level

Such customer confirmations are important for Dr. Benedict Korischem, Managing Director of

The parts to be machined are mounted on this steel clamping cube. The entire structure weighs up to 28 tons, which the Peiseler rotary table moves effortlessly. © Premium Aerotec

Peiseler, confirming that a technological edge leads to market advantages: "We have developed dividing heads that run twice as fast and can process 30 to 40 percent more weight than those of our competitors." In particular, Peiseler has achieved unparalleled precision through consistent further development. To achieve this level, the Remscheid-based company has optimized its entire production process.

The IT landscape and the CAM system in particular are a crucial basis for this. Peiseler works with the latest programs in design, machine planning and production control and carries out FEM calculations and simulations. Using the finite element method, the company checks the structure of the designs to ensure that the machines also function when individual parts stretch and change due to extreme loads and heat of movement. It is also about ideal conditions in production. For example, some of the CNC machinery is housed in air-conditioned rooms and employees carry out constant checks on individual parts at the machine. This is followed by a detailed measurement of the finished parts and test runs under one hundred percent capacity utilization.

Supplier audits and 8D reports are also part of the quality process. Furthermore, Peiseler only uses the highest quality steels and materials to ensure an optimum basis for the manufacture of high-performance sub-assemblies with the highest precision.

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