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Structural Components
Brackets, frames, ribs, fittings and load-path parts where mounting faces sit at defined angles and positional callouts decide whether the assembly fits.
Positional callouts decide whether it fits. Send the drawing with the mounting-face angles. Heavily pocketed parts are a material-removal-order problem, and we plan them that way. Send a bracket drawing
Definition
What we mean by structural components
Structural parts carry load between assemblies: brackets, frames, ribs, bulkhead fittings, lugs, clevises and mounting plates. They are usually prismatic, often pocketed for weight, and defined less by any single dimension than by the positional relationships between holes, faces and slots.
The practical difficulty is distortion. Removing most of a billet to leave a thin web releases stress and moves the part, so the sequence of roughing, stress relief and finishing matters more than the nominal accuracy of the machine. We plan that sequence against your drawing and state it in the quotation rather than leaving it to the operator.
Related capability: 4-axis / 3-axis milling · 5-axis machining · Process chain
Image 1: Structural / bracket components (three-way mounting lugs, weight-relieved)Typical Applications
Where these parts run
Airframe brackets & fittings
Mounting brackets, lugs and clevises interfacing systems and equipment to structure.
Frames & ribs
Pocketed frames and ribs where weight removal and positional accuracy compete.
Engine mount & nacelle parts
Load-path components with compound-angle interfaces and tight hole positioning.
Systems installation hardware
Hydraulic, fuel and avionics mounting hardware and support structure.
Ground support & tooling
Assembly jigs, fixtures and test tooling produced to drawing.
Development hardware
Prototypes and rig structure where the drawing is still changing.
Material Range
Materials for structural components
| Material family | Representative grades | Why it is chosen |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace aluminium | High-strength wrought alloys | Weight and machinability for airframe brackets, frames and ribs. |
| Titanium & titanium alloys | TC4 / GR5, GR1–GR12, TA / TB / TC series | Higher-temperature or corrosion-critical structure, and interfaces to titanium assemblies. |
| Stainless steel | Austenitic, martensitic and PH grades | Strength and wear resistance for fittings, lugs and hardware. |
| Nickel-based alloys | Inconel 718 and comparable grades | Engine-adjacent structure exposed to elevated temperature. |
All stock ships with EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certification traceable to heat number. Titanium grades → · Grade equivalency table →
Process & Equipment
How structural parts are machined here
Sequence is planned around distortion: remove material in a controlled order, relieve where required, then finish.
Feature & datum review
Features assigned to setups; datum structure taken from your drawing so positional callouts relate to real surfaces.
Process planningControlled roughing
Pockets and webs roughed with balanced stock, so material is not removed from one side only.
3-axis / 4-axisStress relief
Intermediate stress relief applied where the material condition or drawing requires it, before finishing.
Process chainFinish & hole work
Mounting faces, pockets and holes finished; compound-angle features cut on 5-axis equipment where indexing is insufficient.
3 / 4 / 5-axisDeburr & document
Edge break to drawing limits, then dimensional reporting with NDT and material certification.
Fitting / quality
Titanium alloy precision parts — finished
Precision fixtures — workholding toolingAxes used. Most structural work runs on 3-axis and 4-axis equipment. Parts with non-orthogonal mounting faces or undercut features are machined on simultaneous 5-axis machines. Grinding and bench fitting are in-house — see the process chain.
Inspection & Acceptance
How structural parts are verified
- Material certification. EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, chemistry and mechanical properties traceable to heat number.
- Non-destructive testing. UT, PT and RT as specified on your drawing; penetrant inspection on finished surfaces where required.
- Dimensional verification. Hole position, face geometry and geometric tolerances checked against the drawing's datum structure, not against a convenient feature.
- Documentation. Full dimensional report issued with the part; FAI to AS9102 on request.
Image 4: Structural part inspection (CMM hole positions / faces)FAQ
Common questions on structural parts
How do you avoid distortion on heavily pocketed parts?
By controlling the order of material removal, leaving even finishing stock, and applying intermediate stress relief where the material condition or drawing calls for it. The sequence is stated on the quotation so it can be reviewed before cutting starts.
Can you machine parts with non-orthogonal mounting faces?
Yes — either by indexing on a rotary axis or, where the geometry needs it, on simultaneous 5-axis equipment. We route the part to whichever method produces the feature directly rather than blending it by hand.
Do you supply anodised or otherwise treated parts?
Surface treatments outside our in-house capability are stated on the quotation rather than arranged silently. Machining, inspection and documentation remain ours; we will tell you exactly which operations are performed where.
Do you accept prototype quantities?
Yes. Prototypes and development hardware are accepted, and FAI to AS9102 is available on request. State whether the enquiry is development or production on the RFQ form.
Send a structural part drawing
Upload STEP, IGES, DWG or PDF. We will reply with process route, achievable tolerances, inspection plan and lead time.