Developing aircraft part forming capabilities with Hydroforming with a Membrane Diaphragm technology in Thailand

tuation has had a severe impact on the aircraft manufacturer and the aircraft parts
manufacturing industry. However, after the air overload business returned to normal. Demand
for aviation parts recovers quickly to be used for new aircraft assembly and maintenance.
Therefore, it is an opportunity for the industry in Thailand to develop technology for
producing aircraft parts for the industry of the future. Being an aircraft parts repair and
production center responding to the national development strategy (Maintenance Repair and
Overhaul : MRO). It may grow to be an Global Aviation Hub in the future.
This paper will present the principles and developments in the use of Hydroforming with a
Membrane Diaphragm technology in the aircraft parts manufacturing industry in Thailand.
Forming complex sheet metal shapes accurately achieving the desired size and dimensions is
difficult and expensive. These include springback problems and edge folding problems. For
example : Stretch flange, Shrink flange and Roll flange. The current research has to be
adjusted according to the needs for the assembly a new aircraft. The research example was an
experiment on the production of aircraft structural parts from aluminum alloy. The results of
the test will show the formability, Accuracy of size and dimensions. The complexity of the
workpiece that have been certified to meet reliable aviation standards such as AS/QS/EN/JIS
9100 and NADCAP. Which can be seen that Such technology has the ability Responding to
the production of high quality aircraft parts with speed, Low cost and the workpiece can be
formed successfully in one step.