Ports are often considered challenging features to machine. Without specialty tooling, this can be true. Machining a port with multiple standard tools can be a time consuming process and there is no guarantee that the feature will function properly. That being said, there are a number of tool manufacturers in the USA that make port tools designed to machine ports quickly and cost-effectively, while ensuring they function correctly.

Ports in Aerospace Parts

Ports are insertion points for fuel or hydraulic lines. Each port is precision machined to ensure an exceptionally tight metal-to-metal seal with its mating component.

While rubber gaskets are sufficient for sealing parts in many applications, critical industries such as aerospace often require fail-proof seals that are invulnerable to high-pressure environments. Only the tightest tolerances and flattest surfaces are acceptable—standards not every shop has the skill, time, equipment, or desire to meet. 

Perfecting Port Machining at Our Denver Machine Shop: How We Do It

Because precision machined ports have such strict specifications, they are difficult to machine with standard tooling, which means a shop must either commit their finest machining experts to hours of painstaking work or invest in custom tooling.

If you’ve been following our work for any length of time, you already know which option we chose! (Hint: We’re hooked on continuously improving our shop’s capabilities.)

We Use Specialized Tooling (Port Tools) to Machine Ports

We never machine ports with standard tooling. Using standard tools may require a machinist to use at least four separate tools for a given port (drill, ball end mill or corner rounding tooling, tap, and flat end mill, for example). Using multiple tools is definitely not ideal for these precision features, as it increases the risk of error and adds time (and money) to a project. 

We always invest in port tools crafted specifically for machining ports. A port tool precisely cuts a port in a single seamless CNC operation. (A separate tapping tool is necessary for forming the port’s threads.)

Contact Summit CNC When You Need Parts with Ports

Do you need machined parts with ports? Contact us today! We’d love to work with you and deliver your parts with precision machined port features.

Request a secure quote for your part!