-
The outer shell of an aircraft is made of sheet metal. Buena Vista Images/Photodisc/Getty Images The airframe or outer frame of an aircraft is made of sheet metal. It is the smooth exterior shell that provides a surface for air to glide over. The metal surface is held together primarily with rivets. Due to the curves and angles involved in the shape of an aircraft, special tools are needed to cut, form and assemble the sheet metal. Pliers, snips and drill bits specifically designed for sheet metal work are commonly used in aircraft building.
Pliers
-
Pliers made for sheet metal work (also known as lineman's pliers) offer a mechanical advantage over standard pliers. They are built for bending and shaping metal, with a square nose and flat sides that are ideal for creating right angles. They are used for bending pieces of aircraft sheet metal too small for machinery to handle.
Aviation Snips
-
Aviation snips are meant to cut cold-rolled and stainless steel sheet metal. They are spring-loaded to self-open. Most have offset blades that allow the user's hand to remain above the sheet metal while cutting. This keeps the hand away from the sharp edge of the freshly cut metal. Sheet metal comes in large sections or rolls and is cut and fit together in segments to create the shell of the aircraft.
Drill Unibit
-
This is a conical drill bit with measurements along the shaft that determine the width of the hole being drilled. As the drill goes deeper into the metal, the larger measurement marks line up with the surface of the metal. This drill bit creates appropriately sized holes so that bolts can be inserted. The bolts will attach some portions of an aircraft's shell that cannot be screwed or riveted together.
No comments:
Post a Comment