Subcontracting to the aerospace industry
1 min read
With its stringent quality controls, high standards of production are necessary at all stages of aerospace manufacture, including from subcontractors. Dawson Precision Components (DPC), a leading precision engineering subcontractor, is one company that is used to working with this demanding industry.
DPC has been called on to make parts ranging from optical display components for F16 jet fighters; cockpit screws for the Eurofighter Typhoon; and specialist fasteners for satellites. Such components must be of high quality material for durability and made to precise specifications to fit the complex workings of an aircraft.
This requires state-of-the-art machines run by trained engineers, and DPC pride themselves on being quick to invest in both.
Many aerospace applications need to be turned and milled in one run. One of the key machines DPC uses to support the aerospace industry is the high spec Goodway CNC GS280MSY lathe - a machine designed for such demanding turning applications.
Such advanced machinery requires considerable expertise to set up and operate, so investment in training is a must. Customer confidence in this area comes not just from having the technology to do the job, but from seeing that the engineers know what their doing.
Production machines need to be backed up by inspection equipment. DPC recently added a Mitutoyo Crysta 7106 CNC CMM to its portfolio, and last year received its ISO9001:2008 accreditation. It has also put staff through the National Physical Laboratory's dimensional measurement training.
All of this, say DPC, has been invaluable in providing the aerospace industry with the confidence it needs to invest in them as a subcontractor. By ensuring a combination of the right expertise, equipment and materials, DPC ensure aerospace manufacturers can be confident the parts they need are delivered quickly and to specification.
