The nacelle and pylon components of the airplane provide opportunity for greater use of the cast structure, which are metallurgically stronger and more cost effective than a fabricated component.
Hinge beams, latch beams, and fan cowls are made from D357 alloy and machined by Hitchcock. This process is able to provide tremendous savings when considering machining a block of aluminum.
Feature
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Benefit
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Active Involvement from Conception to Completion
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- Design participation experience
- Manufacture of the casting
- Ability to machine the casting
- Control the surface finish and treatments requirements
- Install the hardware
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One-Piece Structure
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- Reduces money tied up in inventory of parts needed for fabrications, which leads to an overall lower price
- Reduces purchase order administration time and costs
- Reduces assembly and fasteners
- Significant overall cost savings
- Reduces number of drawings and parts lists
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Freedom to Gate and Chill as Needed
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- Soundness of metal throughout casting
- Designer can include bosses, flanges, and other features and still maintain metallurgical integrity
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Complexity and Size Capability
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- Attain complex geometric shapes and designs that would otherwise be impractical to design
- Designer can create as large a casting as necessary
- Achieve aerodynamic surfaces even when developing a complex dimensional and/or metallurgical casting
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