For decades, high-power aluminum machining has been a fundamental application in the aerospace industry. However, the latest aircraft generation uses more new light-weight materials. For the Airbus A350 as well as for the Boeing 787, the weight percentage of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and titanium alloys has increased while the weight percentage of aluminum has decreased. Consequently, in aerospace applications FISCHER spindles are today primarily used for the high volume cutting of aluminum and titanium parts, in addition to the trimming of CFRP parts. The requirements on spindles used in the machining of CFRP, titanium, and aluminum parts differ tremendously from each other. Generally, aluminum cutting requires high power and therefore high speeds. Titanium is machined at very low cutting speeds where high torque is needed. The machining of CFRP requires high speeds.
For example while aluminum is machined at cutting speeds of 4000 up to 5000 m/min, for titanium cutting speeds for roughing of 50 m/min are standard, and finishing is done at cutting speeds of maximum 300 m/min.