PlaneParts360 Blog

In a piece of machinery as complicated as a modern aircraft, each individual part has an important role to play. That said, there are still certain parts of aircraft that most people would agree are more critical than others. Here are the five key components of an aircraft.

Printed Circuit Board or PCB connectors are links between components on a conductive path or between pads on the board itself. Certain devices feature more than one PCB and will utilise a variety of equipment to create a connection between the circuit boards. PCB connectors are mounted on the PCB itself and are typically used to transfer signals from one circuit board to another. Because PCBs are not hard-wired to one another and can be assembled later in the production process, these connectors are easy to design and manufacture. Different PCBs have different responsibilities. Because of this, the connector’s ultimate application will determine the SWaP (size, weight, and power) properties used in the PCB design. For example, the connector in your smartphone is much smaller and lighter than the connector in your car.

Aircraft maintenance checks refer to the periodic inspections that every commercial and civil aircraft must go through after a certain number of flying hours or time of use. Military aircraft may or may not have the same types of checks as commercial, but they must have their own maintenance programs as well. The aviation industry is extremely regulated, and commercial operators must comply with the inspection programs of authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada, and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Spacecraft and airplanes are intricate machines that are designed and built to precise specifications, including which alloying element works best for individual components. Aluminum, copper, and nickel are most commonly used because of their ability to resist wear and tear, their heat resistance,  and their magnetic properties. New applications have been found to utilize these metals and vastly improve existing designs.

Every aircraft is built and maintained with a specific job in mind. It isn't possible for one aircraft to cover every characteristic a plane can have. For example, a fighter aircraft is made for defense and attack functionality. Thus, it has an extremely strong structure and is extremely powerful. Each characteristic is selected to coincide with one another, so the aircraft is built into a cohesive machine.

When you’re in flight, the only thing separating you from the thin air outside is an airplane window. On one side, there’s a warm, pressurized cabin where you can work, watch movies, sleep — and on the other, air that is not suitable to breathe. Between the two, incredibly sturdy windows. Aircraft cabin windows and windshields are designed to withstand high pressure environments that normal windows couldn’t function in. 

Shaft couplings are different from some other types of connectors because instead of just joining two parts, they actually transmit power from one end to the other on rotating shafts— this is their primary function. Several other features that they have are that they accommodate misalignment and create mechanical flexibility, they reduce transmission shock, and they protect against overload. Shaft couplings join two pieces of rotating equipment such as motors, pumps, compressors, and generators. Shaft couplings generally do not disconnect during operation, but there are torque limits; if exceeded, the coupling may slip or disconnect. There are numerous types of couplings styles; they support particular torque or power transmission and afford various misalignments.

Threaded fasteners play an integral role in the operations of an aircraft. Though small in size, these fasteners are just as highly specified as any other aircraft component. There are various classifications that categorize types of fasteners and where they can be used on an aircraft.

In frigid temperatures of 32 degrees and below, the components of an airplane can reach damaging temperatures that reduce their longevity. When an airplane is started up before it is evenly heated, it has to work much harder to get going. The extraneous efforts can cause wear and tear on mechanics that can reflect 100 to 500 hours of operation. Uneven heating can detrimentally affect pistons, cylinders, camshafts and other components. In a cold weather predicament, it is important to have an aircraft preheating method.

How do Electromechanical Relays Work?

To put it simply, an electromechanical relay is essentially just a switch. However, relays are controlled by electromagnets, whereas switches are manually actuated. They are used in a control circuit when a low power signal is required, or when several circuits need to be controlled. Inside the relay, a small current is used to create a magnetic field within the coil. This magnetic field is used to switch or control a much larger current. Relays come in a variety of sizes and can use different technology, but they operate with the same basic concept that makes them an electromagnetic relay.