Optimized Cutting Tools for Tomorrow's Sustainable Aircraft

“Good design is, for people and the planet, an increasingly critical focus,” according to the UK Government's UK Innovation Strategy. That includes in aerospace, where tomorrow's aircraft will be required to fly more sustainably and support net zero objectives around the world. Optimized cutting tools and process knowledge will be crucial to sustainability and innovation in aerospace, especially when working with increasingly difficult-to-machine materials.

Tomorrow's sustainable aircraft will rely more on next generation powder-based heat resistant super alloys (HRSAs) and advanced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), as they can withstand high temperatures for more efficient fuel burn and low emissions. However, these materials are required to be heat resistant and maintain their material properties under extreme temperatures. This presents challenges at the machining stage.