The aerospace sector stands as one of the cornerstones of advanced engineering in Europe, characterized by a strong emphasis on innovation and research. Within the European sector, prominent companies specialize in the production of advanced aerospace components, with a significant focus on researching and developing new products. Due to the exacting requirements for precision, accuracy, performance, and safety in aerospace components, machining processes such as milling, turning, drilling, and grinding form an integral part of the production process. These processes are essential for manufacturing a diverse array of aerospace components, ranging from conventional ones like aircraft engine parts and aerostructures to specialized components designed for space applications.

The main challenges in the sector include:

• Components with complex geometries, often associated with high flexible zones requiring the adoption of innovative machining strategies. 
• Tight tolerances that can be difficult to achieve using non-optimized conventional machining processes.
• High-quality surface finish, reaching the nanometer scale for some components like telescope mirrors, presenting challenges both in manufacturing and metrology.
• High-performance materials such as titanium, nickel-based alloys, and composites, known for their difficult machinability.

The key issues addressed in this section are:

• Surface integrity.
• Tool wear and breakage. 
• Vibrations. 
• Deflection and deformations. 

The M4A group will explore innovative technologies, industry standards, best practices, and case studies with the aim of promoting the expertise of members and establishing connections with industrial partners in such a high-value-added sector undergoing significant growth in Europe and Italy.