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Parts and equipment manufactured for use by the U.S. military and Department of Defense (DOD) must comply with stringent military specifications (Mil-Spec). Mil-Spec includes tight tolerances for dimensions of parts and the ability of equipment to withstand extreme ambient conditions in storage and in operation. Other requirements of Mil-Spec include the standardization of all materials and parts, use of unique identification (UID) labels, and stringent quality control in manufacturing. Mil-Spec guidelines require exacting standards for the following reasons:

  • Harsh environments. The equipment must work flawlessly in dangerous situations, so it must be of higher quality than equipment used in similar civilian applications.
  • Standardization across vendors. The military employs a large number of contractors to manufacture thousands, even millions, of pieces of the same equipment. It is crucial that there is uniformity among the parts and equipment supplied by different contractors.
  • Rare materials. The operating conditions may demand the use of special metals and alloys due to high heat or other extreme environmental conditions.
  • Large part volumes. The military industry is a very large sector that uses a wide variety of parts and equipment in large quantities. Sometimes these have to be supplied on little notice with short lead times.

 

Materials for Military and Defense Manufacturing

At Hudson Technologies, we’ve worked with a broad range of materials to create precisely engineered military and defense components. Click on the material tabs below to explore the materials and some of their common applications in the military and defense industry.

Aluminum

Aluminum

Aluminum is a lightweight, soft chemical element known for its silvery-white appearance.

Pros

  • Electrical and thermal conductivity
  • High reflectivity
  • Resistance to oxidation
  • Lightweight
  • Malleable

Applications

  • Armour
  • Vehicles
  • Artillery
Brass
Brass Image

Brass

Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc and carries key properties of both materials.

Pros

  • Malleable
  • Slicker than steel
  • Corrosion resistant
  • Durable

Applications

  • Ammo
  • Grenades
Cold Rolled Steel
Cold Rolled Steel

Cold Rolled Steel

Cold Rolled Steel is steel that is rolled at room temperature for better precision.

Pros

  • Precise, uniform manufacturing
  • Smooth surfaces
  • Easily formability

Applications

  • Tow hooks
  • Jack Components
  • Protection Components
  • Weapons
  • Bomb Components
  • Ammunition
Copper
Copper

Copper

Copper is a chemical element with a red-brown metallic finish known for its conductive properties.

Pros

  • Conductivity and heat resistance
  • Malleability and ductility
  • Relatively inert

Applications

  • Nuts and bolts (especially ones that encounter saltwater)
  • Explosive detection equipment
  • Electrical component casing
Cupronickel 715
Cupronickel 715

Cupronickel 715

Cupronickel is an alloy of copper and nickel that also can contain strengthening materials like iron and manganese.

Pros

  • Conductivity and heat resistant
  • Malleability and ductility

Applications

  • Aircraft components
  • Explosive detection equipment
  • Rockets
Hastelloy
Hastelloy

Hastelloy

Hastelloy is a nickel-based alloy that sometimes contains tungsten and is known for withstanding extreme environments.

Pros

  • Corrosion resistance
  • Cracking resistance
  • Versatility

Applications

  • Jet engines
  • Vehicles
Haynes 242
Haynes 242

Haynes 242

Haynes is a nickel-molybdenum chromium alloy often used in aerospace applications for its thermal properties.

Pros

  • High-temperature strength
  • Low thermal expansion

Applications

  • Seal rings
  • Ducts
  • Fasteners
  • Rocket nozzles
HyMu80
HyMu80

HyMu80

HyMu80 is an alloy made from nickel, molybdenum, and iron used for electromagnetic shielding

Pros

  • High permeability
  • Magnetic shielding

Applications

  • Transformer cores
  • Tape wound toroids
  • Laminations
Inconel
Inconel

Inconel

Inconel is an alloy of nickel that contains chromium and iron, often used in high pressure and temperature applications

Pros

  • Corrosion resistance
  • Oxidation resistance

Applications

  • Jet engines
  • Vehicles
Kovar
Kovar

Kovar

Kovar is an alloy made of iron, nickel, and and cobalt used to create seals between glass and metal components.

Pros

  • Low Thermal expansion
  • Dimensional stability
  • Airtight sealing performance

Applications

  • Lids
  • Lead frames
  • Metal seals
Monel
Monel

Monel

Monel describes a family of nickel and copper alloys with varying combinations of iron, carbon, manganese, and silicon.

Pros

  • Corrosion resistance
  • Mechanical strength
  • Ductility

Applications

  • Tubes, pipes, and rods
  • Rivets
  • Exhaust assemblies
  • Dog tags
Nickel Silver Alloy
Nickel Silver Alloy

Nickel Silver Alloy

Nickel Silver Alloy is an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc, named for its shiny, silvery color.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Malleable
  • Cost-effective

Applications

  • Screws
  • Rivets
  • Slide Fasteners
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel is an alloy made of iron, chromium, and trace elements that is known for its resistance to tarnishing and rust

Pros

  • Highly durable
  • Budget-friendly
  • High melting point

Applications

  • Firearm gas tubes
  • Dog Tags
  • Mess kits
17-17 PH
17-17 PH

17-17 PH

17-7 PH is a stable stainless steel made from chromium, nickel, and aluminum.

Pros

  • High strength
  • Corrosion resistance

Applications

  • Engines
  • Exhaust manifolds
  • Springs
  • Washers
  • Superheater tubes
Titanium
Titanium

Titanium

Titanium is a durable metallic element that is stronger than both steel and aluminum.

Pros

  • Corrosion resistance
  • Durable and strong
  • Low density
  • Inert

Applications

  • Aircraft parts
  • Missiles
  • Armor plating

Metal Stamping Applications for Military and Defense

Metal stamping is a cost-effective, high-volume production technique for manufacturing three-dimensional parts from sheet metal. It can reliably create parts that have sophisticated shapes and forms with great accuracy and detail. Since the parts are made from a single sheet of metal, they do not have any seams or joints. This feature renders parts structurally sound and often aesthetically appealing. This manufacturing method is very suitable for making cylindrical components and parts.

Metal stamping military parts is ideal because the process can fabricate products with great precision, consistent quality, low weight, and high strength. This fabrication technique has the added advantage of being able to produce large quantities in a short time, which is often a necessity for the military and the DOD.

The defense sector and the military require metal stamped parts for many different applications. A few examples include:

  • Caps, connectors, and couplings
  • Enclosures and housings for military aircraft
  • Parts for instrumentation equipment
  • Relays, switches, and lighting systems

 

A variety of metals and alloys are used for making metal stamped parts for military and defense purposes. Some of the most commonly used metals and alloys include:

  • Aluminum
  • Brass
  • Copper
  • Cold-rolled steel
  • Cupro-nickel alloy
  • Stainless steel
  • Shielding alloys, such as HY-MU 80
  • Titanium

Hudson Technologies: Solutions for Military & Defense

Hudson Technologies has nearly 80 years of experience supplying standard and custom metal stamped parts to a wide range of industries including the military and the DOD. Hudson’s catalog of standard parts includes more than 15,000 deep-drawn metal stampings of different sizes and shapes.

We are adept at the design, prototyping and large-volume production of custom parts. Our capabilities cover sizes ranging from 0.125–12.0 inches wide, and up to 12.0 inches deep. Our certifications include AS9100D and more. We are well equipped to address the multiple challenges of manufacturing parts for the military including tight tolerances, short lead times, and in-house capabilities that range from prototype to large scale production.

Contact us today for information on our manufacturing capabilities and pricing for military metal stampings.

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