Aerospace engineers are tasked with finding ways to take the general guidelines of multiple disciplines like mathematics & science and use them to make things related to flight more efficient. Herein lies the importance of an engineer’s relationship with custom cable manufacturing. He or she must understand the applications of the materials they have in front of them & how the use of well-crafted, high-quality custom materials from a top-tier manufacturer will make these applications better.
In many respects, the field of aerospace engineering is relatively new, but advances in technology and a curious human spirit have moved the field forward in extraordinary ways. Aerospace engineers can have numerous job descriptions including, but not limited to the designing of air/spacecraft, satellites, and propulsion systems for air defense. The design of these systems involves detailed work, which includes writing out specs for subassemblies and other parts like cables.
Cable manufacturing have done their best to keep up with the demands of the aerospace industry, but doing so poses some significant challenges. There are two areas of aerospace engineering that must be taken into consideration: aeronautical and astronautical. The former pertains to things within the Earth’s atmosphere whereas the latter deal with elements outside of the atmosphere. Each environment poses design challenges, but for cable manufacturers, the attention to detail is crucial.
Custom cables become essential because every new project will be different than the one before. The conceptual elements may be similar, but the physical impact being felt by cables in any of the assemblies in aerospace technology requires project-specific notes. Temperature shifts and vibrations are just some of what has to be considered. Long-term durability, strength, and reliability of cables is of the utmost importance. So, details like over-molding are key.
Data transmission is a top priority, and having the right cables makes getting information where it needs to go much easier. How information is best transmitted will depend on the type of signal and type of cable being used. Is a coaxial cable best in certain applications? Do fiber optics give a better combination of signal integrity & design?
Signal transmission also has to be kept as clear as possible, which means shielding. RFI and EMI shielding of cables & cable assemblies requires consideration because the last thing anyone wants is a loss of communication at a critical juncture during a flight/mission. Plus, because aerospace involves matters of military defense, shielding is also important to think about in terms of security of sensitive information being moved electronically.
While one would imagine such considerations wouldn’t fall under the umbrella of aerospace engineer, budget becomes a focus when designing new engines, control systems, and the instruments that control it all. Thought has to be given regarding the amount of physical space that will be taken up by cables, as well as the weight. Added weight & even a slightly bigger craft may mean a more robust propulsion system, which means added costs including fuel.
Aerospace engineers needs to be familiar with more than one would imagine, but this extensive knowledge proves vital. They can provide a guideline for determining an ideal custom cable manufacturer that can meet the high demands of the industry. Moreover, through the CAD knowledge that aerospace engineers have, they can become important partners with cable manufacturers from loose concept to blueprint to production.
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