It is only when you start to look closer at the
world around us that you realise just how much is made through the use of
precision engineering. From the phones we carry around in our pockets to the
cars we drive every day and the spaceships that are exploring new frontiers at
every opportunity. The need for precision can be traced all the way back to
ancient Greece when people first realised there was a requirement for precise
measures. This then lead to the creation of the first navigation tools and astrology
aids.
But whilst many of the
technology that surrounds us is the result of precision engineering; there are
certain industries that rely on it for many of their important components.
Let’s take a closer look at a few of these and see just how influential precision
engineering is in our world.
Aerospace
Aerospace doesn’t just
cover the planes that we use to fly off on our holidays in; it also includes
the spaceships that are continuously trying to find out more about our solar
system by visiting places that humans could never go. From components that keep
aeroplane seats in place and make them comfortable to piping that aids in the
refuelling of the aircraft; there is plenty that needs to be engineered with
precision. These parts need to be made to the same specifications every time or
there could possibly be repercussions that affect people’s safety, and that is
why precision engineering is so important.
Medical
The exact nature of the
medical industry means that so much of the technology used has to be engineered
to explicit requirements. CNC engineering is used to craft components from a
variety of different materials including aluminium, stainless steel, titanium
and brass and the CNC turning machines ensure that everything is constructed in a uniform manner. Precision engineering
companies will provide components for complex medical machines, vital parts
used in prosthetic limbs and even the medical tools that surgeons use on a
daily basis.
Defence
In order for the defence
industry in this country to be constantly improving; the development that is
aided by precision engineering is vital. One of the biggest discoveries in the
defence industry was when Swiss watchmakers realised the need for precise time
pieces at sea and this lead to the development of state of the art chronometers
that help navies keep accurate time measurements wherever they are. Precision
engineering is also used in the manufacture of parts on missile ejection units
for fighter planes, night sight components and head-up display units. With so
much of the technology used in this sector being safety critical; it is
imperative that everything is made to exact specifications each and every time.
Oil And Gas
The oil and gas industry
provides some of the toughest challenges to precision engineers as there are
often multiple restrictions such as tight limits and hard substances. Despite
the fact that we are always looking for new ways to fuel our homes and
vehicles; the industry is still on the rise and it is thought that it will
continue to grow in the next ten years. Precision engineering plays a vital
role in getting the raw substance from the ground and into our homes and so
there will always be a need for it; even as things develop. Long pipes that
carry the fuel, intricate drill bits that allow us to plunge great depths and
complex oilfield equipment are all built using precision engineering.
Engineering of this kind
is all about quality, accuracy and consistency, and so there is little room for
error in something that so many industries rely on. We rarely get to see more
than just the finished product or service that these industries provide, but
there is so much which precision engineering lends its hand too that couldn’t
be produced without it.
Author Bio:
Chris Mayhew has always
had an interest in engineering and is suprised by just how much of the
technology around us is precision engineered. He would recommend Girffiths
Engineering to anyone looking to sub contract their manufacturing work to a
precision expert.