CNC FOR THE F-35 SUPPLY CHAIN

After extensive testing and evaluation, Northrop Grumman Corporation Aerospace Systems is strongly encouraging its supply chain to explore the use of Siemens Sinumerik 840D solution line CNC and Sinumerik Volumetric Compensation System (VCS) to achieve high-tolerance machined parts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

The Sinumerik 840D solution line is a universal and flexible CNC system featuring the innovative Sinamics S120 drives that can be used for up to 31 axes. It is a distributed, scalable, open and inter-connecting system offering a wide range of specialized functions for milling, drilling, turning, grinding and handling technologies. The drives communications system called ?Drive CLiQ? provides improved diagnostics and fast drive recognition via the electronic type plate.

The 840D is available in both panel- and PC-based versions and offers users innovative features that increase productivity on the manufacturing floor, especially the challenging segments of high-speed and five-axis aerospace machining.

Siemens? collaboration on the F-35 program began in early 2002 with a CNC technology symposium in Fort Worth attended by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and BAe Systems. Since that meeting, the program partners have applied the advanced features of the 840D to solve many of their complex machining challenges.

To find the right equipment to produce these high-tolerance machined parts, Northrop Grumman and its technology partners invested in developing and testing advanced technologies that would enable a step-change in machine tool accuracy.

Extensive on-machine testing and evaluation by Northrop Grumman has demonstrated that a quality machine tool appears to be made substantially more accurate by using the VCS feature of the Sinumerik 840D solution line CNC. Northrop Grumman?s testing revealed that a number of key machine tool attributes are necessary to achieve the required high-tolerance machined parts. These include:

? Robust machine design

? Machine tool repeatability

? Machine tool responsiveness

? Environmental temperature stability

? Stable machine foundation

The Sinumerik 840D sl CNC can provide real-time internal compensation for geometric and feedback errors of a five-axis machine tool. The 840D sl VCS solution corrects the tool center point and orientation that results in a substantial improvement in volumetric accuracy for fork-head style five-axis machines.

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Tim Shafer is the director of the Siemens Aerospace Center of Competence, Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc., 4705 Duke Drive, Suite 250, Mason, OH 45040, www.usa.siemens.com.