A new 5-axis CNC routing and trimming machine has been installed at Brookhouse to further improve the UK's largest independent composites assembly company's finishing expertise and capabilities.

The installation is one of a series of programmed capital investments to help Brookhouse meet the increasing global trend towards composite components and structures in the aerospace sector. The new CMS Ares Machining Centre will be used primarily for work on flying composite components, which have formerly been routed and trimmed by hand, using hard-edged jigs and fixtures.

It features two trimming tables, so that one table can be loaded while the other is in operation.

An 8-station tool rack, mounted on the carriage of the X-axis allows multiple operations and a 400MHz microprocessor can control up to 4 simultaneous processes and 8 axes, with dynamic pre-calculation of movement and controlled acceleration/deceleration to ensure very high quality finishing.

Other recent investments in Brookhouse's composites finishing facilities have included the introduction of an additional paint shop, while there has been comprehensive refurbishment of its extensive cleanroom capacity.

The company has also added a sixth, high specification autoclave to its already comprehensive autoclave capacity.

Brookhouse's tooling resources have been enhanced with two more CNC machining centres and further Catia seats.

The company recently gained Nadcap approval and is continually extending the scope and capability of its 'captive laboratory' status to new and existing customers.

In addition to its conventional composites manufacturing and repair expertise, Brookhouse is also developing 'out-of-autoclave' technologies for the aerospace sector.

These can often be applied to provide cost effective solutions to composites problems.

Brookhouse is totally focused on the aerospace sector.

It offers design and manufacturing for composites tooling, a facility for the repair of composite components and a capability for design, prototyping, manufacture, testing and finishing of complete composite components.

As a result, Brookhouse can offer its worldwide aerospace customers a global facility to take responsibility for complete packages of composites' development and manufacture projects.