If the layup tooling is not perfect, the foundation is flawed.Īt the heart of the UK tooling manufacturing industry for more than 25 years, Hockley Pattern & Tool supplies high quality tools domestically and internationally to major aerospace and automotive manufacturers and their supply chains. There are many hand-offs in the manufacturing and assembly of composite parts, which often include machining, coatings, finishing, and add-on components. Throughout this ongoing evolution, one thing remains constant: layup tooling is critical for both functionality and quality. These layup tools-and those who design, manufacture, and inspect them-are the unsung heroes behind the many parts and finished products that rely on high-strength, lightweight composites.Īs with most manufacturing applications, there is constant improvement in materials and processes that make the manufacturing of high-tech parts faster and cheaper with ever-improving quality. The complexity and precision of today’s composite parts rely heavily on the layup tools that make advanced forming possible. Form tooling and fixturing as a manufacturing concept has spanned the ages and today remains the foundation for many advanced parts, including the cockpit canopy for the most advanced aviation platform ever created-the F-35 fighter jet. This article is about how Hockley builds and verifies advanced tooling. Hockley Pattern & Tool, Halesowen, England, is an example of a company dedicated to the art and science of making perfect tooling. A fitting example of practical precision tooling using advanced metrology Pilots never see the outside world through the canopy.
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