Aviation Distribution Blog

Fasteners are components that are paramount to countless assemblies, securing parts together while also distributing loads and forces. Fasteners can come in various forms, including those such as rivets, screws, nuts, and washers. Blind rivets in particular are a specialized rivet, and they are often used for applications such as aircraft construction. Unlike a conventional rivet, blind rivets can be installed from one side of an assembly, making them very beneficial for a number of uses.

An Actuator is a mechanical or electromechanical device that controls movement or positioning. Actuators are components within a machine that carry out the moving and controlling of a mechanism or system, such as the opening or closing of a valve. Because of this, actuators are sometimes called movers. To operate, actuators need a control signal and source of energy. Following receival of a control signal, the actuator uses energy from the source to foster mechanical motion. Actuators have many uses and therefore come in many types. In this blog, we will look at the most common types of actuators.

Pneumatic valves control the pressure, flow rate, direction, and amount of air that travels through a pneumatic system. Pneumatic systems are integral in countless industrial applications where they control a power source. While the medium in the system is fluid, such as in a hydraulic system, the way in which it is controlled is different. There are many types of pneumatic valves that can be used to control the pressure and flow of fluid. The most common of these are pressure relief valves, flow control valves, and directional control valves. In this blog, we will take a look at each type and its unique characteristics.

The screw, characterized by a helical threading around a long shaft, is the most common fastener in the world. When two or more solid objects need to be joined, you can bet that screws will likely be used. They offer an easy and effective solution for joining solid objects. While all screws feature a helical threading around a shaft, screws are not all the same. In fact, there are six common types of screws: wood, machine, lag, sheet metal, twinfast, and security screws. This blog will discuss each type and its unique distinctions.

Since the invention of automobiles and their internal combustion engines, such vehicles and apparatuses have come a long way in their capabilities and advancements. With more efficient combustion and greater torque transmission, automobiles are faster, more fuel-efficient, and powerful than they have ever been. While a number of components serve important roles in providing such power, the camshaft and crankshaft components in particular are crucial to initiating engine cycles and transferring torque to the transmission.

The gas turbine engine, also known as a combustion turbine, is an aircraft powerplant type that utilizes the internal combustion of fuel and air mixtures in order to achieve thrust for heavier-than-air-flight. Through the various gas turbine parts that work together to compress and ignite fuel mixtures, different types of gas turbine engines can accommodate the needs of aircraft with their high power-to-weight ratios and reliability. In this blog, we will discuss the main components of the gas turbine engine, allowing you to best understand the common components that make up most models and types.

A beacon is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) emitter device that emits radio waves reaching several hundreds of meters and sending information to other bluetooth devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets, and more. Beacons are advantageous for many reasons, but perhaps none greater than their low energy consumption, which allows them to operate for up to twenty years. Apple was at the forefront of the beacon market when they released the iBeacon in 2013 to developers and wireless beacon manufacturers. However, the iBeacon is not a device but rather a frame format allowing bluetooth beacons to communicate with iOS devices. Today, beacons are more popular than ever, with more than 50 BLE manufacturers and countless technical platform providers. In this blog, we will discuss how beacons operate and their uses throughout various industries.

When manufacturing various products, components sometimes require a great amount of compressive force in order to forge, clinch, punch, mould, blank, deep draw, or form materials. As such, machines that provide a great amount of compressive force with ease are very advantageous for manufacturers. While mechanical presses have long served production, newer technology has helped us improve our capabilities and strength while reducing the size of machinery. Within a variety of manufacturer facilities and shops, hydraulic and pneumatic presses are commonly used for performing physical tasks that require large amounts of pressure. With each providing their own unique considerations, understanding the differences between hydraulic & pneumatic press components can help you better make a decision on what type of machinery is best for you.

Turbocharging engines have revolutionized the capability of piston powered aircraft, allowing them to operate at high altitudes with ease. As air pressure and density decreases as an aircraft rises higher above sea-level, aircraft typically lose engine power the higher they climb. To offset this effect, aircraft manufacturers often implement turbochargers within the engine, allowing for air to be compressed to a higher density before being mixed with fuel for combustion. In this blog, we will discuss the history of the turbocharger, as well as how they compare to other turbos such as superchargers.

In recent years, a number of developers and manufacturers have been pushing us ever closer to realizing more electric aircraft. BAE Systems in particular have made their entrance into the market, utilizing their experience with hybrid buses and flight and engine controls in order to create energy management and control systems for both hybrid and fully electric aircraft. Currently, they are moving forward with the development of new energy management systems that will be combined with controls for hybrid engines, allowing them to progress towards future hybrid electric prototypes that are set to be operating in the near future.