Thank God for innovators and engineers who have created and improved metal alloys to new levels of excellence in the automotive, aerospace and other manufacturing processes. In the early 1900's, Will and Orv, also known as the Wright Brothers, determined they would need an engine that was a minimum 8 horse power and at maximum 200 pounds. Thus an aluminum alloy would become the answer. For centuries, aluminum alloys have proven efficient in a wide variety of applications due to being light weight yet durable.
Eventually, with the efforts of many other great innovators and engineers, aluminum alloys that included copper, magnesium and manganese became part of the manufacturing processes in aerospace, automotive and other fabricating applications. Now, we are witnessing yet another incredible leap of advancing technology by NASA with a new metal alloy which involves using thermodynamic modeling and 3D printing. This method improves both strength and durability in components used in aviation and spacecraft manufacturing.
These new types of strong lightweight materials are vital to not just the future of aerospace, but human existence overall. As shared in prior blogs, my passion for manufacturers, fabricators, structural steel fabrication and the like, isn't just for the end products. My passion is all about how those end products make our lives better be that the ability to fly to Florida or the moon; the possibility of having more effective efficient surgeries; the trust in knowing our stadiums, high rises, hospitals, airports and schools are built sturdy and stable.
You don't have to be passionate about metal working to appreciate just how important it is in our world today. But, I highly recommend you consider being at minimum grateful and respectful of these industries we rely upon so greatly. Shakespeare once quoted "Thou doth protest too much"...well he was right! Current human nature suggests we grunt more than cheer about our amenities, infrastructures, resources and so much more. "Let's turn that frown upside down" (a phrase am not sure who to give credit to, but it's not me, pretty sure it's not my mom either). Next time you see a plane fly overhead make an internal mental note "that's amazing!" because it really truly is incredible!
