Project Remit
A major global aerospace manufacturer required two new titanium forming presses for the production of component parts for light aero structures.
The presses were required to be 850 tonnes and 1800 tonnes capacity respectively. The smaller 850-tonne press would be used to produce aircraft components, specifically engine exhaust fuselage protection panels, whilst the 1800 tonne press would be manufacturing components associated with the leading edge of aircraft tail planes.
Both presses were required to be fitted with hotbox heat shields that raised to open, allowing full tooling access. The presses needed to be compatible with the customer’s existing tooling and with similar operator interfaces as their current presses.
The Rhodes Solution
The finished components are typically manufactured from Grade 5 titanium alloy, made up of 90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. The material offers a high strength-to- weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance and good weldability. The smaller press features a heated platen area of 1800 x 1500, whilst the larger press has a platen area of 3350 x 1500 forming up to a maximum temperature of 10000C. Both presses are PLC controlled and include innovative features, such as integrated structure cooling, and precise speed, tonnage, and temperature control.
One of the challenges that Rhodes Interform needed to overcome was the restricted space for its heat shield actuation. The company’s engineers re-designed the guarding using an innovative ‘Cerapid’ chain mechanism for raising and lowering the Shields, which in turn saved a significant amount of space.
Rhodes Interform’s highly skilled engineers carried out the design, manufacture and commissioning of the presses in Wakefield, UK, including testing of the completed presses at the factory and then re-assembly and final testing at the customer’s premises in North America.
Peter Anderton, Technical Director for Rhodes Interform, explains: “This prestigious project with a leading global aerospace manufacturer gave us the opportunity to showcase our design and manufacturing expertise. This expertise stretches over 50 years in the aerospace industry, during which time we have manufactured bespoke presses to meet a wide variety of specialist forming applications.”
Rhodes Interform is at the forefront of Superplastic forming (SPF) with global patents in place, and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of SPF/Diffusion Bonding presses. The company has the capability to service the needs of customers across the globe, with reference sites as far afield as Asia, Europe and North America.
Rhodes Interform is highly experienced in the design and manufacture of hydraulic presses for the aerospace sector, as well as reconditions and upgrades its extensive range of existing machines at a fraction of the cost of buying new. The company can also offer full PLC control system upgrades, with software designed to meet the individual requirements of each customer.
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