Vibration is an inescapable variable in aerospace. Airplane parts can only handle so much fatigue before they begin to degrade or fail. The longevity of instruments and avionics, landing gear, baffling, engine mounts, and even the airframe itself can be drastically impacted by the presence of excess vibration.
When it comes to vibration in an aircraft, there are numerous potential causes:
Crankshaft unbalance
Bearing problems
Loose or worn components in the assembly
Defective crankshaft counterweights
Cracked airframe components
Changes in the operating environment
Overloading
Lengthened service and aging effects
If ignored, the consequences of vibration are only magnified. In essence, vibration shortens the service life of critical components and, in turn, pushes up costs – often unexpectedly and unpredictably.
Effects of Vibration
Even though some vibration is normal and expected in aviation, when aircraft vibration becomes excessive, the following problems may arise:
Cracked exhaust stacks and sheet metal
Higher than normal occurrence of oil leaks and light bulb failures
Physical movement of the airframe (buzz in the seat, yoke and rudder pedals)
Passenger complaints of noise in the cabin
Cutting Down on Vibration
While the elimination of vibration from aircraft is not achievable, reducing it as much as possible and managing its levels for optimum performance will make a noticeable difference and increase the longevity of the airframe and avionics.
Anti-vibration components and materials are a critical starting point on this journey. Careful consideration of characteristics such as deflection, static loading and alignment is crucial when making these selections. Specifying anti-vibration materials and components from the outset, rather than allowing vibration-related problems to become apparent during operation, will result in sustained performance and safety and lower costs.
Rishon® material from RCF Technologies, a low modulus material which absorbs both sound and vibration, is an excellent place to begin. For more information, contact us today.
Gaskets play a crucial role in maintaining a secure seal between connected parts or surfaces, preventing fluid leaks and energy transfer. However, when it comes to high temperature applications, gaskets face two primary challenges: compression set due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures and extrusion or blow out caused by high pressure. Below, we will explore these two common problems and introduce innovative solutions provided by RCF Technologies to overcome these challenges.
Problem 1 – Compression Set
Exposure to high temperature over an extended period can cause gaskets to experience compression set, where the material loses its ability to bounce back to its original shape, leading to leakage. Different gasket materials have varying temperature limits. While metallic and composite seals can withstand temperatures above 1000°F (537°C), elastomeric or rubber gaskets have a lower operating temperature of around 350°F (177°C). However, there is a solution that surpasses these limitations.
Rishon® Material for High Temperature Stability
RCF Technologies offers a revolutionary material called Rishon®, which is a combination of RCF’s proprietary silicone and fiberglass. This unique composite allows Rishon® to withstand temperatures from -170°F to +850°F (-112.2°C to +454.4°C) continuously. Not only does Rishon® excel in high-temperature applications, but it is also an FAA-approved fire barrier in thicknesses as low as .027″. By incorporating Rishon® gaskets, you can avoid compression set and ensure a reliable seal even in extreme temperature environments.
Problem 2 – Extrusion or Blow Out
Extrusion or blow out from high pressure presents another challenge for gaskets. This occurs when the pressure forces the gasket material to deform or dislodge, resulting in leaks and potential system failure. Overcoming this problem requires an innovative approach.
Solution: Rishon® Shim Gaskets for High-Pressure Applications
RCF Technologies has developed a solution to combat extrusion and blow out using Rishon® material together with unique design innovations. By utilizing a 1–10 mm shim faced with a single ply of Rishon® on either side, the gasket gains the strength of a metal gasket while retaining the excellent sealing properties of rubber. This unique design ensures that no extrusion or blow out occurs, even in applications with narrow gaps, high pressures, or multiple bolt holes. With Rishon® shim gaskets, you can achieve a secure and reliable seal under extreme pressure conditions.
Additional Custom Gasket Solutions by RCF Technologies
In addition to addressing the two most common problems with high-temperature gaskets, RCF Technologies offers a range of custom gasket solutions tailored to specific applications. One notable example is the single-fastener gasket used for plumbing firewalls. This gasket features an overlapped split design, providing a completely fireproof seal while allowing easy access to wire bundles or tubes. This innovative solution minimizes weight, reduces installation and removal labor, and ensures utmost safety.
RCF Technologies: Your Partner in Custom Gasket Solutions
When it comes to high-temperature gaskets, RCF Technologies is a leading provider of customized solutions. RCF offers gaskets in any thickness and configuration, with the option to bond them to metal plates or other materials, make them fireproof, or design them to be easily removable. Whether your application involves anti-icing, engine seals, thrust reversers, or plumbing firewalls, RCF Technologies can deliver tailored gasket solutions to meet your specific needs.
In Conclusion
High-temperature applications present unique challenges for gaskets, including compression set and extrusion or blow out. However, by leveraging the advanced Rishon® material and innovative designs offered by RCF Technologies, these problems can be effectively overcome. With Rishon® custom gaskets, you can ensure a reliable seal even in extreme temperature and pressure environments. For custom gasket solutions that address your specific requirements, RCF Technologies is your trusted partner. Contact RCF today to discover how their expertise can benefit your applications.
The aerospace supply chain is quite complex. This should come as no surprise given that there are between 2 and 6 million parts that must be assembled in order to successfully build various types of aircraft. With so many components and materials involved, each supplier must fulfill its role in order to achieve the final product. The thousands of suppliers which manufacture these 6 million parts and contribute to this complicated process are divided into 3 tiers. Each tier plays a significant role in the supply chain and contributes to the successful manufacturing of a finished product, i.e., an aircraft.
Aircraft are produced by OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). The OEMs, companies like Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon, not only supply their products to airline companies like Delta and Southwest Airlines, and private jet companies like Gulfstream and Cessna, they may also supply aircraft in support of the Military.
With millions of parts being made by thousands of different companies, a strict set of requirements is essential to ensure that safety standards are met, and uniformity is guaranteed. In this way, there can be certainty that all the individual pieces will work together to create a complete unit. Not only must the component parts be made to meet all the specs, but they must also flow through the supply chain in a reliable way so that each of the seals and the fittings, the hardware and the finishes, the gaskets and the ducting, get to where they need to be when they need to be there.
Furthermore, each of the suppliers in the supply chain, no matter which tier, must also be certified and registered in order to participate in the supply chain.
The Three Tiers
Tier 1
Tier 1 companies often work hand in hand with OEMs during the designing period. They also typically manufacture the major components or systems utilizing parts or subassemblies from the Tier 2 supply chain. These components produced by the Tier 1 manufacturers are the last systems that are delivered to the OEMs.
The Tier 1 companies that supply directly to the aerospace industry, are the most essential in the supply chain. They manufacture a wide array of vital finished products such as engines, wings, fuselage, control systems, landing gear, braking systems, electronic warfare systems, and interior cabin products.
These organizations are the key drivers of the supply chain. They are responsible for ensuring the entire operation is being effectively and efficiently managed and that all the required government guidelines are being followed. Tier 1 companies form the backbone of the supply chain mechanism and are effectively responsible for ensuring that the entire operation is being carried out properly.
Tier 2
Tier 2 companies are responsible for manufacturing the parts and sub-assemblies used by Tier 1 companies. They are of equal importance to the Tier 1 companies, as they too play a critical role in support of the supply chain. Tier 2 companies are often smaller in size and magnitude as compared to their Tier 1 counterparts but are quite sophisticated in their capabilities and operations. These manufacturers acquire parts from Tier 3 suppliers and forward their end products to Tier 1, making them an essential link in the chain.
Tier 2 suppliers usually shoulder much of the responsibility regarding adherence to safety, compliance, and standards. They are also vital in ensuring the rate of flow of materials and production. These companies provide critical components such as Airfoils, tires, missile nose cones, airframe structures, transmissions, and flight controls.
Tier 3
These manufacturers are often larger than Tier 2 supplies. They are responsible for producing and shipping parts and components directly to Tier 2 companies to be used in various components and subsystems. Tier 3 companies play an important role in the supply chain and they too impact the successful completion of an aircraft.
A Tier 3 company may be a smaller machine shop that produces thousands of parts that ultimately serve a critical purpose. They may also be a manufacturer that produces mission-critical components and software, not just nuts and bolts.
Tier 3 manufacturers supply products and components such as instrumentation fittings and tubing, hydraulic fittings and hose, and high strength fasteners and pins.
All these examples of major assemblies, sub-assemblies and components represent the enormous and complex processes that are involved in building aircraft.
Suppliers as Strategic Partners
For manufacturing success, OEMs must work to build strategic partnerships with multiple sources and suppliers across all tiers of the aerospace supply chain. They must consider each tier and select the suppliers that excel. With so many manufacturers involved in such a complex system, each supplier in each tier must do their part in order to ensure a functioning and effective aerospace supply chain.
What Can Be Expected When Buying Customized and Handmade Products?
BY PAULIE ROSE
Customization vs. Handmade
The concept of customization has been adopted by many businesses over the last few decades. It was incorporated to promote exclusivity. Customized products were a status symbol, a vehicle to make consumers with massive budgets feel special.
Handmade products, on the other hand, have been available forever! And when we think of buying handmade products, we rarely think of large corporations like those who have embraced customization.
When we imagine “handmade products” we envision:
One-of-a-kind items
Personalized products
Home-made goods
Unique finds not available anywhere else
Intricate designs
Pieces of art
Beautiful objects
Manufacturing businesses, making industrial components like high-temperature seals, ducting, gaskets, and connectors/couplings are not usually the types of makers you would associate with handmade treasures.
But there is a place where these two worlds overlap most extraordinarily: RCF Technologies.
5 Benefits of Customized Handmade Products
Whether you are an individual looking for a beautifully hand-crafted artistic creation like a personalized, hand-carved, wooden chess set or an engineer looking for a custom-built, high-temperature solution to a design challenge where no off-the-shelf product exists, you really want the same things!
Excellent quality
Custom built to your needs
Personalized attention
A human contact who is accessible and available
A partner who is equally invested in a beautifully produced outcome
When you buy directly from the person who creates your handmade item, you know you are going to get exactly what you want.
YOU KNOW at any point in the process, you can pick up the phone and connect directly with the person making your piece!
YOU KNOW when you speak directly to the maker, any questions you have will be answered, because the maker knows their product inside out and will be able to give you the best advice.
YOU KNOW that you will get to partner directly with the maker at every step of the design. You will be able to discuss the particulars and benefit from the professional expertise and experience of the maker so that the final product is a piece of art that will be exactly as you want it both in form and function.
YOU KNOW that your product was made with personalized care, attention, and love. While you are going to receive an item that meets print perfectly, each is also personally checked and inspected by individuals who care about the quality of what they make.
YOU KNOW you are dealing directly with the boss, not a call center employee whose bosses’ boss surely doesn’t know your name or care about your individual needs.
YOU KNOW you are not another number, buying another widget.
YOU KNOW you are a valued individual who will be treated with respect.
YOU KNOW you will be the proud recipient of a product that was designed and developed just for you. A product that meets your specific needs.
Why Customized Handmade Products Are Better
There is no doubt that a product made by hand will be better in all sense of design and workmanship.
At RCF Technologies, each of our clients receives handcrafted solutions which are uniquely personalized, designed, and manufactured with attention and care at a competitive price.
EACH of our clients can tap into our teams’ more than 137 years of combined industry experience.
EACH of our clients is guaranteed expert design collaboration resulting in customized solutions that will not only meet their needs but will have been built to help them achieve their desired optimal performance.
EACH of our clients knows that we are trusted partners, with documented success and have been serving industry leaders like Sikorsky, GE, Bell, Honeywell, Boeing, and others for more than 45 years.
Rubber is an essential material used in several industries.
Rubber has played an important role throughout the development of human civilization and continues to be of great importance today. The use of rubber is so significant that the global market size of rubber stood at USD 40.77 Billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 51.21 Billion by 2027. Rishon components have replaced rubber components in the aerospace industry (as well as others), in a variety of applications and for several important reasons.
Rishon is a material which was created by RCF Technologies in 1975. It is a combination of a proprietary silicone and fiberglass (in most cases) although other substrates can be used. The elastomer is coated onto the fabric and forced through the weave of the fabric under heat and pressure forming a homogeneous material.
Rishon material can be:
Flexible or rigid
Has an operating temperature range of -170°F to +850°F
Is fireproof (Rishon is an FAA approved Fire Barrier in thicknesses as low as .027”)
Is chemically compatible with most fluids (including Skydrol)
Is an excellent vulcanizing material
Absorbs sound and vibration
Insulates against heat and flame
Is electrically nonconductive, but can be made electrically conductive with almost no added weight
Rishon is used primarily in the aerospace industry, though has also been used in the automotive, Industrial, Marine and Medical sectors as well. Rishon material is used by RCF Technologies to design and manufacture components such as:
These products are principally used for applications requiring high temperatures or fireproofing and offer longer life and lighter weight than most components made utilizing other materials.
Rubber Temperature Table
Elastomer
Low F
High F
Rishon®
-170°
850°
Natural Rubber
-67°
180°
Neoprene
-50°
275°
Silicone
-70°
570°
Nitrile
-30°
250°
EPDM
-60°
300°
SBR
-50°
225°
Butyl
-75°
250°
Fluorosilicone
-100°
350°
Natural Rubber
Rubber is a material that was originally made from natural sources such as the rubber tree and other plants (including dandelions which produce the latex that natural rubber is made from).
Natural rubber has:
Good durability
A temperature range of -67°F to +180°F
Is elastic
Is flexible
Is a good electrical insulator
Is resistant to many corrosive substances
Has resistance to degrading, abrasions, and surface friction
Natural rubber is used in many consumer and industrial items, including tires, gloves, some types of foam rubber, flooring and roofing, balls, and insulation.
Neoprene
Neoprene is a synthetic rubber made up of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine polymers and was invented in 1930. It is used in applications that face harsh conditions and a lot of wear, such as automotive and industrial applications.
Neoprene has:
A temperature range of -50°F to +275°F
Is resistant to oil and solvents
Is chemically inert
Has high tensile strength
Is flexible
Is weather and flame resistant
Neoprene can however absorb water over time and does not work well as an electrical insulator.
Silicone Rubber
Silicone rubber is:
Generally stable
Non-reactive to most chemicals
Has a temperature range of -70°F to 570°F
Is resistant to ultraviolet rays, ozone, and fire.
Silicone rubber is manufactured in many different colors and is very malleable, available as both solid and liquid products.
Nitrile Rubber
Nitrile rubber has:
A temperature range of -30°F to +250°F
Is resistant to oil and water
Is quite durable
EPDM Rubber
EPDM rubber is a synthetic rubber compound and has:
A temperature range of -60°F to +300°F
Insulates
Reduces noise
EPDM rubber however, is not resistant against petroleum-based oils, mineral oils, and some other lubricants.
SBR Rubber
SBR rubber has:
A temperature range of -50°F to +225°F
Is hard and durable
Is resistant to some fluids
Butyl Rubber
Butyl rubber, also known as isobutylene isoprene, has:
A temperature range of -75°F to +250°F
Has low moisture and gas permeability
Has good shock absorption
Fluorosilicone Rubber
Fluorosilicone rubber, also known as FVMQ, has:
A temperature range of -100°F to +350°F
Is resistant to transmission fluids, engine oils, fire, synthetic lubricants, and ozone
Both natural and artificial rubbers are used in a variety of applications and across most industries. Each rubber varies regarding elasticity, electrical insulating properties, resistance to impact, water, cold, and abrasion, temperature range and more.
For more information about Rishon Material, and RCF Technologies products, please contact us today!
ATLANTA, December 3, 2020 —The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced its International Trade division’s 2020 GLOBE Award recipients. This state-led awards program highlights Georgia companies that entered new international markets in the previous year. During calendar year 2019, GLOBE winners from 17 counties across Georgia collectively entered 75 new international markets.
“Success in global markets takes commitment and hard work. Our Georgia made products and services are making a mark around the world,” said Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp. “We’re proud to celebrate these companies for their contributions to a thriving Georgia economy through exports.”
The 2020 GLOBE Award winners represent nearly every corner of the state, and are predominately small businesses. This year, 84% of the recipients employ fewer than 100 people, with 52% of the winning companies employing fewer than 20 people. In addition, nearly half of the winners this year entered one of the 12 markets where GDEcD has international representation.
“We are excited to celebrate our 31 GLOBE Award winners. The strong international framework our trade team and our Georgia exporters have established over the past several years has kept Georgia on a solid trajectory, despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “From aerospace manufacturing to agriculture, nearly every sector of our economy is represented among our awardees, proving how exporting and the state’s strong international partnerships help strengthen Georgia’s economic vitality.”
Four outstanding companies were also recognized as 2020 Exporters of the Year. These four small, mid-size and large exporters of the year are highlighted here. A digital image of the crystal GLOBE Award that will be presented to recipients is also available here.
The 2020 Exporters of the Year are:
Exporter of the Year, small company: Poriferous, LLC, Newnan
Exporter of the Year, mid-size company: Sunnyland Farms, Inc., Albany
Exporter of the Year, mid-size company: Vital4, Marietta
Exporter of the Year, large company: Zcorum, Alpharetta
*** Additional details about each of the winners follow below. ***
In addition, Parts and Repair Technical Services, Inc., in Stockbridge, was recognized for excellence as a new exporter. P.A.R.T.S. Inc. represents more than 140 U.S. aircraft parts manufacturers, specializing in urgent, non-stock listed, hard-to-find, or obsolete parts, and has emerged as a trusted and well-known partner to countries across the world.
A complete list of the 2020 GLOBE Award winners:
AGRI International LLC, Atlanta
American 3B Scientific, LP, Tucker
Crider Foods, Stillmore
DataSeers, Alpharetta
Easy Bar Inc., Kennesaw
Fischer Connectors, Inc., Alpharetta
Hydro Dynamics, Inc., Rome
Inno Concepts Inc. dba CocoaTown, Alpharetta
Jetaire Group, Fayetteville
LivFul, Inc., Alpharetta
Matrix Surgical USA, Atlanta
Okabashi Brands Inc., Buford
One-World, Inc., Tucker
Osborne Wood Products, Inc., Toccoa
Parts and Repair Technical Services Incorporated, Stockbridge
Patientory, Inc., Atlanta
Petrolern LLC, Brookhaven
Plurium Technology, LLC, Peachtree Corners
Poriferous, LLC, Newnan
Rackettown Mustangs, Lyons
RCF Technologies, Vidalia
Richland Distilling Company, Richland
Rotorcorp LLC, Atlanta
Sunnyland Farms, Inc., Albany
The Seydel Companies, Pendergrass
THERMOCOAX, Alpharetta
Trans Globe, Woodstock
UNITED SOFT PLASTICS, Lawrenceville
Valtorc International, Kennesaw
Vital4, Marietta
Zcorum, Alpharetta
“Our entire International Trade team looks forward to celebrating our GLOBE Award winners every year,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner for International Trade Mary Waters. “I’m very proud not only of our winners’ exceptional international achievements, but also of the guidance and tailored information our trade team has been able to equip them with every step of the way.”
The GLOBE Awards program began in 2014 as a way to recognize local businesses contributing to Georgia’s economic growth through global trade. Since its inception, the GLOBE Awards have recognized nearly 200 Georgia businesses from 48 counties across the state who entered new international markets.
For additional information about the state’s International Trade team, visit www.georgia.org/international/trade.
Exporter of the Year, small company: Poriferous, LLC
Based in Newnan, Poriferous specializes in porous polyethylene surgical implants used in rhinoplasties and facial aesthetics. Additional information can be found online at www.poriferous.com.
Exporter of the Year, mid-size company: Sunnyland Farms, Inc.
Based in Albany, Sunnyland specializes in delivering gourmet nuts, candies and confections directly to consumers. The company also sells wholesale pecans directly to businesses. Additional information can be found online at www.sunnylandfarms.com.
Exporter of the Year, mid-size company: Vital4
Based in Marietta, female-owned Vital4 provides data to corporations to prevent bribery, corruption, terrorism, money laundering and other security risks. The company has found a great need for their services in other countries. Vital4 won the 2018 Metro Atlanta Export Challenge and came in second place at the Metro Atlanta Pitch Challenge in 2019. Additional information about Vital4 can be found online at https://vital4.net/.
Exporter of the Year, large company: Zcorum
Based in Alpharetta, ZCorum provides software tools and management services such as engineering and customer support to cable, telephone, fiber and wireless companies globally. Additional information can be found online at www.zcorum.com.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit www.georgia.org for more information.
Contact
Marie Hodge Gordon
Director of Communications
404-962-4075
MGordon@Georgia.org
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