AFIT BUILDS CAPACITY IN AEROSPACE COMPONENT PRODUCTION USING COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL (CNC) MACHINING

The Centre for Innovation and Research (CIR) of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Kaduna organized a two-week intensive training for military and civilian staff on Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. The CNC training aims to build skilled technical manpower capacity for machining process which is one of the most valuable assets in accurate and efficient production of aerospace manufacturing tools. The process is most suitable for manufacturing aerospace parts because it has the capacity to achieve extremely tight tolerance. Numerous aerospace parts ranging from outer shells and wings to engine and cockpit components can be machined which helps guarantee greater degree of consistency throughout production while minimizing the risk of part failure.The training is a major investment in manpower development pursuant to actualizing and achieving the AFIT Lightweight Trainer Aircraft (ALTA) project component parts. The project will be a breakthrough to justify the investment in the institution by the Federal Government of Nigeria and Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (HQ NAF) under the leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Isiaka Oladayo Amao.The aim of the training was achieved as participants acquired machine profiling skills for aerospace component part by generating G and M programming codes. The skilled technical manpower training achievement further consolidates the Commandant, AVM PO Jemitola’s vision which is “To transform the Air Force Institute of Technology into a Global Centre of Multi-Disciplinary Academic and Research Excellence whilst functioning as the Prime Technical Manpower Development Resources of the Nigerian Air Force”