High-Speed Machining (HSM) is a relatively new manufacturing technology with a high potential for improving machining efficiency especially when machining large aluminum parts. The Space Shuttle External Tank, therefore, provides an excellent opportunity to benefit from HSM technology as the tank is expendable and this 1/8 in. 'skin' is machined from solid wrought aluminum plate stock which is approximately 1.75 in. thick. As a new tank is required for each flight, the reduction of production costs is of obvious significance. This study was initiated to determine if the HSM techniques developed at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company for machining aluminum missile parts could be transferred to the Space Shuttle External Tank Panels. Based upon the results of the study it was conservatively estimated that machining times and costs could be reduced by at least 25 % or 85,000 US Dollars per tank.
High-speed machining of Space Shuttle external tank panels
Hochgeschwindigkeitsumformen der Aussenverkleidung fuer die Kraftstoffbehaelter des Space Shuttle
1987
12 Seiten, 12 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 2 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
NTRS | 1973
|Space Shuttle External Tank Instrumentation Evaluation
NTIS | 1979
|Space Shuttle with Improved External Propellant Tank
NTIS | 1982
|Lightning protection design external tank (space shuttle)
Tema Archiv | 1979
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