The quick, accurate manufacture of complex parts is essential to aerospace machining. Long lead times and unreliable delivery from CNC machining suppliers are creating a backlog within the aerospace industry, holding up production and incurring massive costs – aerospace companies are looking for suppliers they can trust.
At M-CNC, we run our state-of-the-art 5-axis CNC machines 24/7, ensuring fast delivery times are met without compromising on production quality. Our automated processes and capacity enables us to handle high-volume, high-complexity work around the clock – keeping up with the demands of aerospace industry giants.
How does lights-out machining work?
A lights-out factory operates throughout the night without lighting and with few to no operators present overnight. There are a few key characteristics to lights-out machining.
1. Automation
Lights-out machining is made possible using fully automated systems, including automated storage and retrieval systems, CNC machines, tool changers, and more. These systems must be configured to work together seamlessly without constant human oversight – and without compromising the quality of the end product.
2. Optimised workflow
Sensors, cameras, and other advanced software work together to monitor and control lights-out machining, ensuring an optimum, efficient workflow is achieved.
3. Unmanned operation
Whilst manual oversight is needed to ensure the machining process is correctly set up and initiated, successful lights-out machining means human operators don’t need to be present during the entire production process. This presents significant cost savings on labour.
The benefits of lights-out machining
There are numerous benefits to lights-out CNC machining, including:
- Increased productivity: Automation and 24/7 machining naturally lead to increased production capacity.
- Consistent, superior quality: Successful lights-out machining requires perfect setups. If a machine can run all night without human oversight, it can only do so because our processes are so stable and precise that risks are kept to an absolute minimum.
- Shorter lead times: Because we run our machines 168 hours a week instead of 40, we can meet urgent aerospace orders and hit incredibly tight delivery dates.
- Cost saving automation: Operating automatically and overnight requires less manual labour – further saving on production costs. Overnight manufacturing accuracy is also assured by our ability to make aerospace parts right the first time.
5-axis CNC machining
Our 5-axis CNC machines are set up to run autonomously overnight. This effectively triples our production capabilities without tripling our workforce – leading to shorter lead times and cost production savings.
5-axis CNC machining is performed by computer controlled machines with five different axes of motion for the cutting tool. This provides the machine with superior flexibility, and gives us the ability to produce parts with complex geometries to an incredible degree of accuracy.
5-axis machining is fantastic for manufacturing intricate aerospace parts for several reasons, including:
- Quicker set-up time: A machine can be set-up to work on multiple sides of a part simultaneously, speeding up the process and reducing the need for position changes.
- Better tool engagement: Multi-axis movement enables better tool engagement and an improved surface finish on machined parts.
- Incredibly precise: Working on a piece from multiple angles means even the most complex part can be manufactured to an incredibly high degree of accuracy.
