AirCraft Aluminum?

[beege]

Sometimes I get a drawing/print for a part that says "aircraft aluminum". How many different types of aluminum go into aircraft? I know 6061 of some temper is used (T6?)

 

[johnoder]

Sometimes I get a drawing/print for a part that says "aircraft aluminum". How many different types of aluminum go into aircraft? I know 6061 of some temper is used (T6?)

2024 to whatever heat treat was common years ago. There were also casting alloys.

 

[Rob F.]

I am expecting similar questions in a few years: what does "tactical billet" called out on the print mean....

 

[Lewie]

Sometimes I get a drawing/print for a part that says "aircraft aluminum". How many different types of aluminum go into aircraft? I know 6061 of some temper is used (T6?)

Send those back with a "Inadequate Information" and a NO QUOTE. :-)
...lewie...

 

[jaguar36]

No decent aircraft uses 6061 for structural parts. 7050, 7085 are most common on new aircraft. 2024 and 7075 on older aircraft.

 

[robert123]

ANSI H35.2 tolerances for sheet and plate calls 2014, 2024, 2124, 2219, 2324, 2419, 7050, 7075, 7150, 7178 and 7475 aerospace alloys.

 

[Donkey Hotey]

You didn't say what the product is. Are you welding it? The only requirements given:

• Aluminum
• Used on aircraft

After that, the choice seems to be yours.

 

[beege]

It's not used on aircraft. It's an internal part that I was told that we usually make from 6061. I'd go educate an engineer, but that's either impossible, or in this case, he's long since retired.

 

[MrWhoopee]

"Aircraft aluminum" is a term used in consumer advertising, which is pure puffery. Most commonly it is actually 6061. You can try to pin them down or just make the damn thing.

 

[triumph406]

Send those back with a "Inadequate Information" and a NO QUOTE. :-)
...lewie...

All you have to do is ask the customer to be more specific about the material req'd.

I don't know about you, if I have to jump the odd hurdle to get more information, I will. All it takes is an e-mail, a text, or a call.

There may be many reasons to no-quote, but to no no-quote 'cos your not sure about the material is childish. The next guy getting the print isn't going to be so stupid

 

[beege]

I've mostly worked with stainlesses. Again, here, I see prints asking for stainless without specifying which one. Most of the time, they mean 304, but criminy, be specific!

 

[Donkey Hotey]

Anyone who says "aircraft aluminum" probably doesn't know what they want. Similarly though: about five years ago, I was designing some parts and what I needed was "aluminum". What kind didn't really matter.

My employer had/has a long history of being one of those places that calls out the material down to the shape and size of the raw material, ASTM spec, blah, blah. The note I put on the drawing read something like this:

Commercially sourced, domestic wrought aluminum alloy specified as 2xxx, 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx series aluminum, in the heat treated condition T4 or above (T6, T651, etc.). No certifications required.

I got a minor bit of push back during design review. The shop kicked the package back because they refused to make the material call. I literally walked out and told them: "Do you have a piece of material on the rack? On the ground next to the bandsaw? Whatever, that's fine. We just need it made."

Sometimes it's just a piece of metal: a spacer, an installation tool, an alignment jig, etc. In this case they were support blocks and screw jack pads for alignment and installation of a piece of equipment. Yes, it was sculpted all pretty, with pockets all over it, a couple of female acme holes but, the material wasn't critical in any way. It just needed to spread out a load over some existing wiring and plumbing and any aluminum at all was plenty strong enough.

Has anyone seen an industry accepted call-out to accomplish this on a drawing?

 

[Limy Sami]

Is the following no longer used on drawings ? ;-

IF IN DOUBT - ASK

 

[CalG]

If the part will be welded, or anodized, make it from 6061

 

[EPAIII]

How many aluminum alloys go into aircraft?

Probably ALL of them.

Yes return that print with a NO QUOTE! Ask for an actual alloy.

 

[???]

Aerospace grade or aircraft grade is a phrase much loved by the tacticool mall ninjas. I normally tell them 6061 was what they used to make the ashtrays with before smoking on aircraft was banned.
The best material spec I have heard of was AOS. When the supplier queried it and said he had never heard of the standard the engineer told him it means any old shit.

 

[john.k]

I once bought bundles of 6061/T6 tube that was used in hang glider construction.....from the widow of the manufacturer........they were all rolled into a egg shape section .....supposedly patented ..........anyhoo,the gubmint just posted a requirement for safety rails for house roof work,and suggested "aircraft grade aluminium " for the rails.....excellent !

 

[David_M]

I like tactical black-ops military-grade billet aluminum alloy unless I can get tactical black-ops military-grade billet titanium alloy.

 

[Ries]

The only time I KNEW I was getting real Aircraft Aluminum was when I bought it from the Boeing Surplus store in Renton.

 

[Limy Sami]

The only time I KNEW I was getting real Aircraft Aluminum was when I bought it from the Boeing Surplus store in Renton.

And even that was what they DIDN'T want Ries