In the world of manufacturing, there is a seemingly-endless variety of tools, machines and processes used to get the job done. Centerless grinding is critical to many manufacturing industries where roundness and accuracy are needed, but for people who don't use this machine on a daily basis it comes with a lot of questions. What is centerless…

Non-destructive testing (NDT) includes a selection of tests in which aerospace and other precision manufacturers must be well-versed and skilled in order to craft the highest quality parts and achieve the best possible results for customers. These innovative tests are used by industry experts to evaluate the properties of a material, component,…

Jeff Paton is one of IPG's veteran precision machinists. An Indianapolis native with nearly four decades of experience (three of which at IPG), it's easy to understand why Jeff is a valued member of our team. In fact, when Jeff started applying his trade with us, current Vice President Matt Cox was only 16 years old.

Every liftoff, every touchdown, and every patch of turbulence takes its toll on the aircraft and the parts which allow it to take flight and stay in the air. As the plane continues to bear the brunt of these effects, the question arises: when does the aircraft need to be replaced because of age? Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer, which…

The mark of a new decade, 2020 was destined to be a year to remember. The new year began with a sense of optimism as the aerospace industry was continuing to thrive in terms of economic growth. Unfortunately, by March these successes went down the drain. In a matter of days, the market experienced an unprecedented decline in demand and the…

There are many aerospace processes that are needed to make aerospace parts the best they can be. Every aerospace part serves a crucial role in the system, so the quality of their construction and the processes used to make the parts are defining features. One of these processes is laser cladding. In this article, we will investigate laser…

With impressive precision and ability to identify cracks, corrosion, and material degradation, radiographic testing has been a widely accepted method of nondestructive testing for a wide variety of industries including aerospace, automotive, and military. So, what exactly is radiographic testing and why is it so widely used? 

The aerospace industry is dominated by different materials, each with a unique set of properties and characteristics. These materials need to be strong and durable even under the extreme conditions of air- and spaceflight. They also need to be lightweight to optimize the efficiency of the aircraft. Seeing as there are so many materials available…

For years, OEMs used hard chrome plating to provide wear protection on a wide variety of parts and components for everything from vehicles to gun barrels—so it probably wouldn't be too surprising to learn that the aerospace industry relied pretty heavily on chromium to make all matter of aircraft parts, including landing gear.