Carbon Fiber Composites: Lightweight Parts for Optimal Aerospace Performance

Sep 30, 2024

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One of Prospect Group’s specialties is in precision machining for Aerospace and related applications, making parts from aluminum, stainless steel, and a more unique material, carbon fiber.

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The Importance of Carbon Fiber Composites in Aerospace Manufacturing

In one of our previous articles, we discussed the contribution of composite materials to the Aerospace industry. Carbon fiber is a popular type of composite, a type of material made by combining graphite fibers with a resin in order to create a highly durable material. The result is carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CRFP), a highly durable material with a superior strength to weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. Its properties have made it especially useful in Aerospace applications where both high strength and low weight are critical, as well as several other industrial applications. 

Carbon fiber composites come in many configurations, as composites can be developed for particular properties. For instance, some are excellent for infrastructure and support applications, while others perfect for various types of equipment. 

Composite Machining at Prospect Group

Prospect is unique when it comes to composite parts machining. In addition to machining carbon fiber components, we also design, build, and trim the lay-up tool needed to actually process the end product, all in our facility. Composites can be tricky to machine, and often require specialized tooling, which many manufacturers outsource to another company. We have all of that capability in-house for faster turnaround times and more consistent quality for our customers. Plus, we can be more cost and time efficient in our production–no waiting for the tool or part to ship to us, and far less shipping costs overall for the final product. 

We have over fifteen 5-axis CNC machines that can mill, trim, and drill carbon fiber composites, all of which are calibrated to meet tight tolerances up to .003”. All of these machines are equipped with paper filtration systems, inspection probes, and the latest CAM software so that we can ensure our customers receive the best value for their composite parts. 

Interested in what Prospect Group has to offer? Head over to our website to learn more about what we can do for you and request a quote today!