Technology that removes errors from CNC manufacturing processes to create right-first-time parts is seeing a surge in demand within the space industry for manufacturers producing components for rockets, satellites and launch equipment.
The growth of the Space industry is staggering and is currently projected to be worth an estimated $1.8 trillion by 2035. However, behind the scenes, manufacturers are struggling to manufacture complex parts correctly, keep up with supply chain demands or adapt their current processes to win space contracts.
It is in these areas that CNC metrology expert, MSP, has seen an increased demand from companies well-established in the industry or start-ups wanting to manufacture space components. MSP’s proven solution was developed in and for the aerospace industry before also finding success in F1. The technology can create the ‘perfect part’ by removing calibration errors from probe, machine and alignment setup autonomously to achieve the perfect finished part.
Currently there are no other metrology solutions offering this end-to-end automation for the manufacturing industry, making their solution unique. MSP’s products offer proactive solutions to adapt existing manufacturing methods to the demands of the space manufacturing industry and it is because of this that has seen their popularity rise in the sector.
Aidan Wigham, Technical Account Manager, said: “Using traditional and, often manual, manufacturing methods to machine composite or additive space components is not viable due to the high value nature of parts and importance of machining them right-first-time. Manual manufacturing methods cannot guarantee an error-free production process which increases the likelihood of scrap”.
MSP’s CNC metrology products solve the pitfalls of normal manual manufacturing methods. The first, AutoClock, automates probe calibration and removes the potential for manual error to affect machine accuracy and ultimately lead to poor part quality. NC-Checker runs automatically after as a quick day to day test to prove if the machine is accurate enough to machine parts. Each axis of the machine is checked for full accuracy and any errors can be quickly identified and then eliminated before machining starts.
The last pitfall space companies can fall foul to is during the manufacture of the actual parts. Composite and additive components either suffer from high distortion (making the actual part differ from the CAD) or have no datum points to align from (making part setup processes time-consuming or expensive). MSP’s NC-PartLocator automatically calculates what the part’s alignment should be (with no need for datum points) and the controller is automatically updated. All errors due to misalignment are eliminated and the software has a proven record of cutting scrap rates to zero and increasing production by 500% for these sorts of parts.
Manufacturers benefitting from these solutions include a California-based autonomous factory firm and orbital launch services provider, Orbex, based in Scotland.
And the benefits continue as Aidan explained: “Processes must also be flexible as, often, only a few parts of a version are produced, before they are then redeveloped, so spending huge amounts on bespoke systems or tooling to ensure quality isn’t feasible. Because it’s all automated and no customisation is needed, manufacturers could, if they wanted to, produce a different part each time, to the same level of quality, without the need for an expensive customised solution per component.
“Manufacturers particularly enjoy the fact our products don’t disrupt their existing manufacturing processes. Production can remain almost the same with only automation enhancements needed for certain setup processes to increase accuracy, efficiency and provide a transparent understanding of each step of the manufacturing process”.
The growth of the space industry has been stratospheric, and if more manufacturers entering the sector use this type of metrology solution to automate their production processes, the growth of this industry will be truly exponential.
To learn more about MSP’s products, visit: www.mspltd.com.