White Paper · Hwacheon Hi-Eco 35 (two cells) × Aerospace
Hwacheon Hi-Eco 35 for Aerospace
Mid-size CNC lathe pair for shafts, gear blanks, flanges, and threaded components with consistency and clean finishes. This paper covers what the machine does, the aerospace parts we produce with it, the alloys we run, the tolerances and finishes aerospace buyers expect, and the documentation package.
Executive summary
Machine: Hwacheon Hi-Eco 35 (two cells) (shop nickname: Ironwood Revival / Quickdraw Slim). mid-size precision CNC turning center at B&R Productions, running from our New Waverly, Texas shop under an ISO 9001:2015 quality system.
Application: Mid-size CNC lathe pair for shafts, gear blanks, flanges, and threaded components with consistency and clean finishes for Aerospace customers — Aerospace primes, tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers, MRO shops, propulsion component manufacturers, structural assembly integrators, actuator OEMs.
Envelope: 12.5" OD × 42" L max turning (each cell). Tolerance: ±0.0005" routine on critical features. Traceability: Material by heat and lot on every job.
The machine, in context
The Hi-Eco 35 pair is the mid-size backbone of the shop's turning capacity. Two identical cells means when one is loaded with a long-cycle Inconel job, the other keeps repair and small-batch work moving. Shafts, gear blanks, flanges, threaded components — the class of parts that make up the bulk of oilfield turning volume runs here.
Full specifications
| Model | Hwacheon Hi-Eco 35 — two cells: #16 ("Ironwood Revival") + #14 ("Quickdraw Slim") |
| Type | Mid-size CNC turning centers, run in parallel for throughput |
| Max turning capacity | 12.5" OD × 42" L per cell (B&R working spec) |
| Platform max swing | 23.6" over bed; 16.35" turning diameter platform-max |
| Platform max length | 50" between centers |
| Chuck | 12" 3-jaw hydraulic (15" available on some builds) |
| Turret | 10-station |
| Control | Fanuc OT-C |
| Configuration | Two identical cells for parallel throughput |
| Tolerance capability | ±0.0005" routine on critical features |
| Materials | Stainless, carbon steel, aluminum, Inconel, Duplex, 17-4 PH, Monel |
Values marked "platform" reflect the machine manufacturer's published spec range for this platform family; B&R's working spec is what we quote on this specific unit.
Who this serves in Aerospace
Typical buyer: Aerospace primes, tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers, MRO shops, propulsion component manufacturers, structural assembly integrators, actuator OEMs.
What's hard about aerospace work: Certification-driven documentation, exotic superalloys, tight tolerances on structural and engine components, ITAR handling for controlled prints, and customer-specific QMS integration.
Typical Aerospace parts we produce on Ironwood Revival / Quickdraw Slim
- Mid-size aerospace shafts, bushings, pins
- Actuator rods and cylinder components
- Engine and gearbox shafts
- Fittings and adapters (fluid and pneumatic)
- Landing gear turned components
Above list is representative; if your part isn't shown, call and ask — most oilfield / aerospace / defense / industrial turned or milled work fits somewhere in the shop.
Alloys we run for Aerospace
Standard range: Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) and Grade 23 (Ti-6Al-4V ELI) · Inconel 718 · Inconel 625 · Waspaloy · A286 · 17-4 PH · 15-5 PH · 13-8 Mo PH · Aluminum 7075/6061 · Custom aerospace alloys on request.
Titanium Grade 5 is the workhorse and it's temperature-sensitive: aggressive chip load with flood coolant keeps the heat in the chip, not the workpiece. Light cuts overheat titanium and cook tools; that's why titanium demands a different intuition than steel. Inconel 718 in aerospace-aged condition is harder and less forgiving than the annealed billet stock — most aerospace 718 work assumes aged. 17-4 PH and 15-5 PH are common for structural and actuator components; both are precipitation-hardening stainless with condition-specific machining plans.
How we machine it — our 5-step process
This is the process B&R runs on every job, aerospace or otherwise. The specifics of feeds, speeds, and tooling shift by alloy and machine; the discipline is universal.
- Material verification. Every job starts with material traceability. Heat and lot numbers documented against the mill test report. For customer-supplied material, we verify against the CofC before touching the stock.
- First-article layout. Stock is measured and laid out before any cutting starts. Concentricity, roundness, and squareness of the starting material established; if the stock is out of tolerance we call the customer before wasting time on a bad blank.
- Roughing with process control for the alloy. Feeds, speeds, and coolant strategy set for the specific alloy family — sharp coated carbide (or PCD for high-volume Ti Grade 5), positive rake, high-pressure through-tool coolant on 2507 and Inconel to control cutting temperature. Interrupted cuts get extra attention because they cycle heat into the workpiece.
- Finish pass to spec. Finish pass with a fresh insert, controlled DOC, and measured surface-finish targets. Critical features (bore concentricity, seat grooves, sealing surfaces) are held tighter than most job-shop lathes can offer.
- CMM verification + documentation. Every critical dimension CMM-verified. First-article report generated. Certificate of conformance issued with delivery. Customer-specific ITPs and PPAP-style packages produced on demand.
Send a print, drop off a sample, or call (936) 291-7827. Same-day for rig-down / AOG when material is stocked.
Tolerance and finish expectations in Aerospace
±0.0005" routine on critical features. Tighter with proper fixture and setup — some aerospace features run ±0.0002" or GD&T-driven cylindricity and position tolerances. CMM verification standard on first articles; process-driven measurement on runs. Surface finish measured, not estimated.
Documentation and quality workflow
Customer-specific quality plans integrated on demand. First-article layout and CMM verification standard. Material traceability by heat and lot. ITAR-controlled prints handled under NDA with customer-specific document control — prints stay in-shop. Certificates of conformance issued with delivery.
Response time and emergency work
AOG (aircraft-on-ground) work prioritized when material is available. Emergency response supported for existing aerospace customers with blanket arrangements or established relationships. Call direct at (936) 291-7827.
How we compare
Compared to a captive aerospace shop: we're faster for one-offs and small runs, more flexible on setup, and we don't require a long approval process. Compared to a lowest-bidder commodity shop: we understand the alloys, we've handled ITAR before, and we treat first-article inspection as a discipline rather than a formality.
Working with B&R Productions
New customer or existing, the process starts the same way: call (936) 291-7827 or send a print through the quote form. Prints are accepted as PDF, STEP, IGES, DWG, or DXF; if you only have a sample part, we reverse-engineer routinely. NDAs on request. ITAR-controlled prints handled under document control with prints staying in-shop.
Quotes typically come back within 24 hours for standard work, same-day for repeat customers on stocked materials, and near-immediately by phone for emergency and rig-down situations. Lead times are quoted honestly — we don't promise Wednesday and deliver next month.
Frequently asked questions
8 questions covering the Hwacheon Hi-Eco 35 platform and Aerospace work. Also indexed as FAQ schema for AI answer engines.
Why does B&R run two Hi-Eco 35 cells instead of one?
Parallel throughput. When one cell is loaded with a long-cycle Inconel job, the other keeps mid-size repair and small-batch work moving. Two identical cells means predictable capacity when volume matters.
What's the max turning capacity per cell?
12.5" OD × 42" L is B&R's working spec. The platform max is 16.35" turning diameter × 50" between centers with a 23.6" swing.
What chuck size and turret does the Hi-Eco 35 use?
12" 3-jaw hydraulic chuck (15" available on some builds). 10-station turret. Fanuc OT-C control.
Do you serve aerospace primes and tier-1/2 suppliers?
Yes. Aerospace primes, tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers, MRO shops, propulsion component manufacturers, and structural assembly integrators. Customer-specific quality plans and AS9100-lineage QMS expectations supported.
Can you handle ITAR-controlled aerospace/defense work?
Yes. ITAR-controlled prints handled under NDA with customer-specific document control. Prints stay in-shop.
What tolerances do you hold on aerospace parts?
±0.0005" routine on critical features. First-article layout and CMM verification standard. Surface-finish targets measured to spec.
What aerospace alloys do you run?
Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V), Grade 23 ELI, Inconel 718 and 625, Waspaloy, A286, 17-4 PH, 15-5 PH, aluminum 7075/6061. Custom aerospace alloys on request.
Can you respond to AOG (aircraft-on-ground) work?
Yes, when material is available. Emergency response supported for existing aerospace customers. Newer customers should call to discuss what's realistic for their specific alloy and part.
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