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A Brief Overview of the Aerospace and Defense Industry

A Brief Overview of the Aerospace and Defense Industry

Today’s article focuses on: The 2021 Fortune Global 500 Sector Rankings: Aerospace and Defense Original article link: www.fortunechina.com/fortune500/c/2021-08/02/content_394586.htm In this ranking, Forbes identifies 13 companies whose primary business is aerospace and defense—six from China, five from the United States, and two from Europe (France’s Airbus and the UK’s BAE Systems). Each year, there are also several industry-specific rankings that are typically released a bit later. When it comes to the aerospace and defense sector, two major sources of information are the annual “Top 100 Defense Companies” list published by U.S. magazine Defense News, and the biennial “Aerospace & Defence 25” ranking of the world’s 25 most valuable aerospace and defense brands, compiled by UK-based Brand Finance. We will wait until around August 15 for the more specialized “Top 100 Defense Companies 2021” report, after which I will follow up with another article. All such rankings are designed to highlight current competitive dynamics, project future trends, and provide insights into potential shifts over time. The underlying logic involves summarizing, comparing, and forecasting—using a timeline as the vertical axis, rankings as the horizontal axis, and trend curves to outline the upper and lower bounds of each sector. The analysis covers the U.S.–China relationship, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the BRICS countries, and industrialized nations. For well-known reasons, following the founding of the People’s Republic, China’s industrial development relied heavily on Soviet aid during a brief initial period. As the country navigated turbulent times and gradually transitioned to self-reliance over a much longer span, it managed to build its national defense capabilities—including the “Two Bombs, One Satellite”—on a foundation of limited resources and relatively little experience. In doing so, China achieved what others had accomplished, thereby establishing parity in key strategic areas. Subsequently, as China integrated further with the international community—through initiatives such as restoring its UN membership, establishing diplomatic relations with the United States, participating in arms control agreements, implementing the household contract responsibility system, launching reform and opening-up policies, and joining the WTO—it made notable progress in improving people’s livelihoods and advancing conventional commercial and industrial sectors, partially realizing the goals of the Four Modernizations. Looking ahead, China’s rise—and its resurgence—will continue to face both challenges and opportunities. Let me briefly elaborate on the underlying rationale: 1. The energy and environmental ceiling: According to current patterns in developed countries, particularly the U.S. and Europe, the American lifestyle requires five times as much energy and places three times the strain on the environment, while the European lifestyle demands three times as much energy and exerts twice the environmental pressure. 2. Geographical and historical constraints: Asia, where we live, has limited land and maritime resources, yet must support a population that is three to five times larger than that of the U.S. and Europe. Factors such as delayed geographical expansion, late industrialization, and lagging technological development all contribute to inherent disadvantages in catching up. 3. Looking forward from the past, and backward from the future: By examining both the present and the future, and by projecting trends based on reality, we can—and should—have confidence in our ability to manage China’s and Asia’s affairs effectively. The road ahead is long and arduous; it is incumbent upon us to strive tirelessly for self-improvement.

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2021

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Four-Axis Machining Center and Its Characteristics

Four-Axis Machining Center and Its Characteristics

I. What Is a Four-Axis Machining Center? A four-axis machining center refers to a CNC machine tool that incorporates a fourth axis for additional machining capabilities. Specifically, it adds a rotary axis—commonly referred to as the fourth axis—to a conventional three-axis CNC machining center. Machining centers are primarily used for machining flat surfaces, grooves, and curved surfaces. They represent the fastest-growing segment of CNC machine tools and are among the most widely applied types of machine tools. Machining centers are suitable for applications in mechanical processing, mold manufacturing, shipbuilding, automotive and auto-parts production, aerospace, and other industries. II. Characteristics of a Four-Axis Machining Center 1. Programming for four-axis machining is complex and challenging. Unlike three-axis machining, four-axis machining involves not only three linear motions but also one or two rotational motions, resulting in highly intricate and abstract spatial trajectories. These trajectories are often difficult to visualize or comprehend. For example, to machine a desired free-form surface, multiple coordinate transformations may be required, or sophisticated tool-axis orientation control methods must be employed. At the same time, coordinated motion among all axes must be carefully managed to prevent interference and collisions. 2. Four-axis machining can enhance production efficiency. Multi-axis CNC machining enables simultaneous control of four or more axes, integrating functions such as CNC milling, boring, and drilling into a single system. After a workpiece is clamped once, multiple operations—including milling, boring, and drilling—can be performed on the same surface, effectively eliminating positioning errors caused by repeated setups. This reduces the production cycle and improves machining accuracy. 3. Four-axis CNC machining centers are characterized by high precision. During four-axis machining, a workpiece can be processed on multiple surfaces in a single setup, and complex spatial surfaces can be machined with high precision. This makes them particularly well-suited for producing molds and dies for automotive components, aircraft structural parts, and other similar applications. III. Advantages of Four-Axis Machining Compared with Three-Axis Machining Drawbacks of three-axis machining: 1. Excessively long cutting tools lead to higher tool costs. 2. Tool vibration can result in poor surface finish. 3. Increased number of machining operations necessitate multiple setups. 4. Cutting tools are prone to breakage. 5. The number of cutting tools required increases. 6. Overcutting can produce nonconforming parts. 7. Repeated tool setting introduces cumulative dimensional errors. Advantages of four-axis machining: 1. Significant improvement in tool performance. 2. Reduced number of machining operations and shorter setup times. 3. Elimination of the need for fixtures. 4. Improved surface quality. 5. Extended tool life. 6. Greater process integration and centralization. 7. Effective enhancement of machining and overall production efficiency. IV. Main Application Areas and Typical Parts for Four-Axis Machining Key application areas: aerospace, shipbuilding, medical devices, automotive industry, and mold manufacturing. Typical parts: cams, turbines, worm gears, propellers, shoe molds, human body models, automotive components, and other precision parts. Nanjing Jianchuanshi Industrial & Trade Co., Ltd. is dedicated to providing end-of-line solutions for the machinery industry, with a primary focus on machine tool accessories and robotic end-effectors. Our product portfolio includes machine tool attachments, cutting tools, workholding fixtures, and automation products. We offer a comprehensive product matrix that combines breadth with depth, as well as a service framework that balances acuity with massiveness. In the fields of industrial “teeth” and “fingers,” Jianchuanshi leverages its expertise and hard work to create greater value for your enterprise. Please feel free to contact us for more information!

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2021

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Moving Towards Intelligent Machine Tools

Moving Towards Intelligent Machine Tools

With the advancement of modern information technologies, particularly the new generation of artificial intelligence, intelligent machine tool technology has entered a new phase of development. Building on the three paradigms of intelligent manufacturing as defined by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, this paper systematically expounds the concept, connotations, characteristics, and architectural framework of intelligent machine tools. It delineates the three evolutionary stages of machine tools—from manual machines to intelligent machines—namely CNC machines, Internet-plus machines, and finally intelligent machines—and provides a detailed analysis of the underlying principles governing the four key intelligent control functions: autonomous sensing and connectivity, autonomous learning and modeling, autonomous optimization and decision-making, and autonomous control and execution. The paper further highlights the intrinsic characteristic of intelligent machine tools: the ability to generate and accumulate knowledge through data-driven learning—and introduces several pioneering enabling technologies, including instruction-domain analysis, hybrid physical–big-data modeling, i-code, and dual-code coordinated control. On the basis of this research, an intelligent CNC system and an industrial prototype of an intelligent machine tool have been developed. Practical applications of three intelligent technologies—machining-quality optimization based on Cyber NC and dual-code coordinated control, process-parameter optimization via big-data modeling, and deep-learning-based modeling and error compensation for machine-tool feed systems—demonstrate that the deep integration of next-generation AI with manufacturing technologies offers a convenient and effective pathway for advancing machine tools from “Internet-plus machines” to “intelligent-plus machines.”

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2021

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Introduction to YG-1 TS3167 Powder Metallurgy Tap and DIN Standards

Introduction to YG-1 TS3167 Powder Metallurgy Tap and DIN Standards

The YG-1 TS3167 series powder metallurgy taps, manufactured under YG’s stringent quality control and featuring a unique geometry, effectively prevent overfeeding and issues with fine threads, thereby reducing machining time and boosting production efficiency. The TS3167 series taps have consistently earned high praise for their superior quality and distinctive design, remaining the preferred choice. YG-1 TS3167 Applicable Materials Key Features of the Full YG-1 DIN Powder Metallurgy Tap Series in China European Quality: High Quality German Design: High Standards Asian Manufacturing: Excellent Cost Performance ● Definition and Technical Advantages of Powder Metallurgy ● Powder Metallurgy: A manufacturing process that uses metal powders (or mixtures of metal and non-metal powders) as raw materials, which are then formed and sintered to produce metallic materials, composite materials, and various types of finished products.

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2021

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MPM – Leader in Dynamic Balancing Machines

MPM – Leader in Dynamic Balancing Machines

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2021

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Arrowstone Product Matrix – Cutting Tools Edition

Arrowstone Product Matrix – Cutting Tools Edition

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2020

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The 17th National List of 100 Outstanding Automotive Parts Suppliers

The 17th National List of 100 Outstanding Automotive Parts Suppliers

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2020

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A Comprehensive Guide to Five-Axis Machining

A Comprehensive Guide to Five-Axis Machining

Do You Really Understand Five-Axis Machining? A Comprehensive Guide to Five-Axis Machining! In recent years, five-axis CNC machining centers have seen increasingly widespread application across various industries. In practical applications, whenever faced with the challenge of efficiently and high-quality machining complex, freeform parts, five-axis technology is undoubtedly a crucial solution. More and more manufacturers are turning to five-axis equipment to achieve high-efficiency, high-quality machining. But do you really understand five-axis machining? 01 Mechanical Structures of Five-Axis Machines To truly understand five-axis machining, we must first grasp what a five-axis machine is. A five-axis machine, as the name suggests, adds two rotary axes to the three conventional linear axes—X, Y, and Z. Two of the three rotary axes—A, B, and C—have distinct modes of motion to meet the technical requirements of various products. In the mechanical design of five-axis machining centers, machine tool manufacturers have consistently strived to develop new motion patterns to satisfy diverse needs. Although there are many different types of five-axis machines on the market today, their mechanical structures generally fall into the following categories: 1. Two rotary coordinates directly control the orientation of the tool axis (dual-tilt-head configuration). 2. Two coordinate axes are located at the tool tip, but the rotary axes are not perpendicular to the linear axes (downward-tilting head configuration). 3. Two rotary coordinates directly control spatial rotation (dual-rotary-table configuration). 4. Two coordinate axes are on the worktable, but the rotary axes are not perpendicular to the linear axes (downward-tilting worktable configuration). 5. One rotary coordinate acts on the tool, while the other acts on the workpiece (one-tilt-one-rotate configuration). *Terminology: If a rotary axis is not perpendicular to the linear axes, it is considered a “downward-tilting” axis. After examining these various five-axis machine structures, I believe we now understand what movements a five-axis machine performs and how those movements occur. However, with such diverse machine configurations, what specific characteristics do they exhibit during machining? And compared with traditional three-axis machines, what advantages do they offer? Let’s now explore the standout features of five-axis machines. Numerous Advantages of Five-Axis Machining When discussing the characteristics of five-axis machines, it’s essential to compare them with traditional three-axis equipment. Three-axis machining equipment is quite common in production, available in vertical, horizontal, and gantry forms. Common machining methods include end-milling with end mills, side-milling, and contouring with ball-end mills. However, regardless of the form or method, all three-axis machines share one common feature: during machining, the tool axis direction remains constant, and the machine can only achieve tool movement in the Cartesian coordinate system through interpolation along the X, Y, and Z linear axes. Consequently, when dealing with certain types of parts, three-axis machines suffer from low efficiency, poor surface quality, or even an inability to machine altogether. Compared with three-axis CNC machines, five-axis CNC machines offer the following advantages: 1. Maintaining optimal cutting conditions and improving cutting performance As shown in the figure above, in the left diagram, under three-axis cutting, as the cutting tool moves toward the top or the edge of the workpiece, the cutting condition gradually deteriorates. To maintain optimal cutting conditions in such situations, the worktable must be rotated. And if we want to fully machine an irregular surface, the worktable must be rotated multiple times in different directions. As you can see, a five-axis machine can also avoid the situation where the center point of a ball-end mill has zero linear velocity, resulting in better surface quality. 2. Effectively avoiding tool interference As illustrated in the figure, for components such as impellers, blades, and blisk assemblies used in the aerospace industry, three-axis machines cannot meet process requirements due to interference issues. In contrast, five-axis machines can easily handle these tasks. Moreover, five-axis machines allow the use of shorter tools, enhancing system rigidity, reducing the number of tools required, and eliminating the need for specialized tools. For business owners, this means that five-axis machines can help reduce tool costs! 3. Reducing clamping operations and enabling five-face machining in a single setup As shown in the figure, a five-axis machining center can also reduce datum changes, thereby improving machining accuracy. In actual machining, only a single clamping operation is needed, making it easier to ensure machining precision. At the same time, because the process chain is shortened and the number of machines is reduced, the number of fixtures, workshop floor space, and equipment maintenance costs also decrease. This means you can achieve more efficient and higher-quality machining with fewer fixtures, less factory space, and lower maintenance expenses! As shown in the figure, a five-axis machine can use side-milling, resulting in higher machining efficiency. 5. Shortening the production process chain and simplifying production management The comprehensive machining capabilities of five-axis CNC machines greatly shorten the production process chain, making production management and scheduling much simpler. The more complex the workpiece, the more pronounced the advantage over traditional, fragmented production methods. 6. Shortening the new product development cycle For companies in the aerospace, automotive, and other industries, some new product parts and forming molds have very complex shapes and extremely high precision requirements. Therefore, a five-axis CNC machining center with high flexibility, high precision, high integration, and complete machining capabilities can effectively address the challenges of precision and timing in machining complex parts during new product development, significantly shortening the development cycle and increasing the success rate of new products. In summary, five-axis machines offer countless advantages. However, controlling the tool orientation, the CNC system, CAM programming, and post-processing in a five-axis machine are all far more complex than in a three-axis machine! Furthermore, when we talk about five-axis machines, we inevitably encounter the issue of “true vs. fake” five-axis machines. As we all know, the biggest difference between true and fake five-axis machines lies in the RTCP function. But what exactly is RTCP, how did it come about, and how should it be applied? Next, we will examine RTCP in detail, combining machine structure and post-processing programming, to reveal its true nature. 03 About RTCP RTCP, in high-end five-axis CNC systems, stands for Rotated Tool Center Point, commonly known as the tool-tip tracking function. In five-axis machining, when pursuing the trajectory of the tool tip and the relative pose between the tool and the workpiece, rotational motion generates additional movement of the tool tip. The CNC system’s control point often does not coincide with the tool tip, so the CNC system must automatically correct the control point to ensure that the tool tip follows the commanded trajectory. Some in the industry also refer to this technology as TCPM, TCPC, or RPCP. In fact, the functional definitions of these terms are all similar to RTCP; strictly speaking, RTCP is used primarily in dual-tilt-head configurations, compensating based on the rotation center of the tilt head. Meanwhile, functions like RPCP are mainly applied in dual-rotary-table machines, compensating for changes in the linear-axis coordinates caused by workpiece rotation. Ultimately, these functions serve the same purpose: maintaining the consistency between the tool center point and the actual contact point between the tool and the workpiece surface. For ease of explanation, this article uniformly refers to such technologies as RTCP. So how did the RTCP function come about? Many years ago, when five-axis machines were just beginning to gain popularity, the concept of RTCP was heavily promoted by machine tool manufacturers. At that time, RTCP seemed more like a gimmick—a technological novelty marketed purely for its own sake—with most people being more enthusiastic about the technology itself than about its practical benefits. In reality, RTCP is quite the opposite: it’s not only a great technology, but also one that delivers real value and benefits to customers. Machine tools equipped with RTCP (what we in China call “true five-axis machines”) eliminate the need for operators to precisely align the workpiece with the rotary table’s axis; even with a rough setup, the machine automatically compensates for any offset, significantly reducing auxiliary time while improving machining accuracy. Additionally, post-processing is straightforward—simply output the tool-tip coordinates and vectors. As mentioned earlier, mechanically, five-axis CNC machines typically come in dual-tilt-head, dual-rotary-table, and one-tilt-one-rotate configurations. In the following sections, we will take a high-end dual-rotary-table five-axis CNC system as an example to provide a detailed introduction to the RTCP function. In five-axis machines, the concepts of the fourth and fifth axes are defined as follows: in a dual-rotary-table configuration, the rotation of the fourth axis affects the pose of the fifth axis, while the rotation of the fifth axis does not affect the pose of the fourth axis. The fifth axis is a rotary coordinate on the fourth axis. Now that we’ve clarified the definitions, let’s explain how it works. As shown in the figure above, the machine’s fourth axis is designated as Axis A, and the fifth axis as Axis C. The workpiece is placed on the C-axis rotary table. When Axis A rotates, since Axis C is mounted on Axis A, the pose of Axis C is also affected. Similarly, for the workpiece placed on the rotary table, if we program the tool center to cut, any change in the rotary coordinates will inevitably lead to changes in the X, Y, and Z linear-axis coordinates, causing a relative displacement. To eliminate this displacement, the machine must compensate for it—and RTCP exists precisely to perform this compensation. So how does the machine compensate for this offset? Next, we’ll analyze how this offset arises. As mentioned earlier, we know that changes in the rotary coordinates lead to shifts in the linear-axis coordinates. Therefore, analyzing the rotation center of the rotary axes becomes particularly important. For dual-rotary-table machines, the control point for Axis C—the fifth axis—is usually located at the rotary center of the machine’s worktable, while the control point for Axis A is typically set at the midpoint of the fourth-axis line. To achieve five-axis control, the CNC system needs to know the relationship between the control points of the fifth and fourth axes. Specifically, in the initial state (when Axes A and C are both at position 0), the position vector [U, V, W] of the fifth-axis control point in the fourth-axis’s rotating coordinate system, with the fourth-axis control point as the origin. The system also needs to know the distance between Axes A and C. For dual-rotary-table machines, the relationship is illustrated in the figure below. At this point, you can see that for machines equipped with RTCP, the control system ensures that the tool center always remains at the programmed position. In this case, programming is independent and unrelated to machine motion. When you program on the machine, you don’t need to worry about machine movement or tool length; all you need to consider is the relative motion between the tool and the workpiece. The rest of the work is handled by the control system. Here’s an example: As shown in the figure, without RTCP, the control system does not take tool length into account.The cutting tool rotates about the spindle’s center. The tool tip will move away from its original position and no longer remain fixed. As shown in the figure above, when RTCP is enabled, the CNC system only adjusts the tool orientation while keeping the tool tip position constant. The necessary compensation movements along the X, Y, and Z axes are automatically calculated. So how do five-axis machines and CNC systems without RTCP address the issue of linear-axis coordinate offsets? As we know, many domestically produced five-axis CNC machines and systems today are what are referred to as “pseudo-five-axis” machines. The term “pseudo-five-axis” simply means that the machine lacks RTCP functionality. Whether a machine is “true” or “pseudo” five-axis has nothing to do with its appearance or whether all five axes can perform simultaneous motion; in fact, even pseudo-five-axis machines can achieve five-axis simultaneous machining. The key difference lies in the absence of the true five-axis RTCP algorithm, which means that programming for pseudo-five-axis machines requires accounting for the swing radius of the spindle and the position of the rotary table. Consequently, when using a pseudo-five-axis CNC system and machine tool for programming, it is essential to rely on CAM software and post-processing techniques to plan the toolpath in advance. For the same part, if the machine tool or the cutting tool is changed, CAM programming and post-processing must be redone from scratch. Moreover, when clamping workpieces on pseudo-five-axis machines, it is crucial to ensure that the workpiece is positioned at the rotational center of the machine’s rotary table. For operators, this translates into substantial setup and alignment time, with precision that cannot be guaranteed. Even for indexed machining, pseudo-five-axis setups are far more cumbersome. In contrast, with a true five-axis machine, only one coordinate system needs to be defined and a single tool setting is sufficient to complete the entire machining operation. The following diagram uses the NX post-processor editor as an example to illustrate the coordinate transformation in pseudo-five-axis machining: As shown in the figure, pseudo-five-axis machining relies on post-processing techniques to account for the positional relationship between the centers of the machine’s fourth and fifth axes, thereby compensating for the displacement of the linear axes caused by the rotary axes. The resulting CNC program includes not only the programmed approach points but also the necessary compensation for the X, Y, and Z axes. This approach leads to insufficient machining accuracy, low efficiency, non-universal programs, and high labor costs. Furthermore, since each machine has different rotary parameters, a corresponding post-processing file is required for every machine, which creates significant inconvenience in production. In addition, programs generated for pseudo-five-axis machines cannot be modified, making manual five-axis programming virtually impossible. Moreover, without RTCP functionality, many advanced five-axis features—such as five-axis tool compensation—are unavailable. In reality, for a five-axis machine tool, it is merely a tool used to achieve the desired machining results; there is no inherent distinction between “true” and “pseudo.” What matters most is our process planning, which determines the appropriate machining method. Relatively speaking, true five-axis machines offer better value for money.

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