FOUR FULL-SCALE METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITE (MMC) VERTICAL TAILS WERE BUILT FROM TWO TYPES OF MMC: 15V/0 SIC W/2124-T6 AL, AND SIC/6061 AL. FABRICATION OF THE DETAIL PARTS USED SEVERAL UNIQUE, COST-EFFECTIVE PROCESSES. WITHOUT QUESTION, THE GREATEST LABOR-SAVING DEVICE WAS THE ROBOTIC ABRASIVE WATERJET USED TO CUT THE FLAT PATTERNS. FLANGED RIBS WERE FORMED BY HOT-RUBBER HYDROFORMING, REPLACING MATCHED DIES WITH A SINGLE MALE FORM BLOCK. THE LARGE LAMINATED SIC W AL SKINS WERE CHEMICALLY MILLED AND ADHESIVE-BONDED. ALL FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS WERE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRODUCTION-RATE PROCESS STANDARDS AND INSTRUCTIONS.
| Number of Pages : | 18 |
| Published : | 06/01/1990 |
