New Tools Needed

摘要

The growing use of composites, titanium and stacks containing both materials in structural applications is driving major change in the airframe industry. These represent challenging applications that require cutting tool materials that are both very hard and tough. To increase aircraft efficiency and reduce lifecycle costs, aircraft manufacturers are using more composites and titanium (See Figures 1 and 2 on pages 76 and 77). The Boeing 787 (shown above) and the Airbus A350 airframes, for example, will consist mostly of composites by weight. In the business jet market, Hawker Beechcraft's Premier IA and Hawker 4000 will have all-composite fuselages and Eviation's EV-20 Vantage will have all-composite wings and fuselage.