# CNC Turning for Aerospace Landing Gear Components

> Precision Advanced Manufacturing turns landing gear parts in aerospace alloys. Explore operations, tolerances and supplier qualification. Get a quote.

**Published:** 2026-10-02 | **Updated:** 2026-10-22 | **Author:** precision
**URL:** https://precisionam.com/articles/aerospace/cnc-turning-aerospace-landing-gear/
**Type:** post

**Categories:** Aerospace

![CNC Turning for Aerospace Landing Gear Components](https://blog.precisionam.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2026/10/1790417451330-e283ba2cf10e-1024x572.webp)

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## Content

*Last updated: October 21, 2026*

## Key Takeaways

- CNC turning for aerospace landing gear covers flight-critical components such as struts, piston rods and actuator bodies from high-strength alloys under AS9100D requirements.
- Key materials include 300M and 4340 steels, 15-5PH stainless, Ti-6Al-4V titanium and 7075-T6 aluminum, each with specific tooling, parameters and process controls.
- Long bores and large forgings need advanced techniques like damped boring bars, mill-turn centers and strict chatter control to maintain tolerances and surface integrity.
- Post-processing such as shot peening, plating and non-destructive testing follows NADCAP-accredited procedures with full traceability to support structural performance.
- Precision Advanced Manufacturing delivers CNC turning for aerospace landing gear components with multi-axis capability, AS9100D and ITAR registration and integrated finishing across U.S. facilities.

[Request a quote for landing gear turning](https://precisionam.com/request-a-quote/?utm_source=ai-growht-agent&utm_term=cnc-turning-aerospace-landing-gear)

## Landing Gear Components Made by CNC Turning

Landing gear CNC machining covers a range of turned components, and the turning operations required vary by component geometry, alloy and drawing specification. Each part family brings its own process window and risk profile.

![A commercial airliner in flight against a blue sky.](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1785164215115-cf050b902241.webp)**Aerospace manufacturing for flight-critical hardware — machined and fabricated to AS9100D with the traceability and repeatability commercial airframe programs depend on.**

Struts and piston rods are the most demanding turned components. They require OD turning on large forgings, hard turning at high hardness, deep-hole boring for long internal bores and concentricity control across extended shaft lengths. [Landing gear outer cylinders can reach 150–300 mm in diameter and 1,500–3,000 mm in length](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/516). That scale makes bore straightness and concentricity the governing process challenges.

![A CNC lathe with bar feeder on a precision machine shop floor.](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1785163965087-cefe2f64913c.webp)**A CNC turning cell with bar feed runs precision round parts lights-out — consistent diameters and finishes at volume, fully traceable from raw stock to finished component.**

Actuator bodies and cylinders require ID boring, deep-hole and gun drilling for hydraulic bores and mill-turn operations to produce port features, flanges and seal glands in a single setup. [Nose gear actuators in 15-5PH stainless steel typically run 50–120 mm in diameter and 500–1,200 mm in length.](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/516) These parts reward single-setup machining that holds concentricity between bores and external features.

Pins, bushings and trunnion components require precision turning with tight diameter control and controlled surface finish. These components are shorter but carry high contact stress, so dimensional accuracy and surface integrity remain critical.

Key turning operations for landing gear components include:

- OD and ID turning on large forgings and cylinders
- Deep-hole and gun drilling for long hydraulic and structural bores
- Mill-turn and multi-axis turning for concentricity and setup reduction
- Hard turning at high hardness levels for final OD and bore profiles

Landing gear CNC machining also involves milling, fabrication and finishing operations around the turned parts. Turning operations govern the dimensional and surface integrity of the primary structural features.

## Materials Used in CNC-Turned Landing Gear Components

[300M steel (AMS 6419) is the dominant landing gear material, accounting for approximately 70% of current main landing gear production.](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/384) It is a silicon- and vanadium-modified 4340, [heat treated to approximately 1,930 MPa tensile strength and 53 HRC in the quenched-and-tempered condition.](https://fabdigit.com/materials/steel-300m) [Its machinability rating of 38/100 sits below most steel grades.](https://fabdigit.com/materials/steel-300m) That rating demands rigid setups, AlTiN-coated carbide tooling, conservative cutting parameters and high-pressure coolant. Rough machining runs in the annealed condition before final heat treatment. At full hardness, CBN or ceramic hard turning and grinding are the practical options.

![A machined metal part fixtured inside a CNC machining center.](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1785163886671-8f5217244f88.webp)**Mission-critical components leave no room for deviation. Multi-axis CNC machining holds tight tolerances part after part, with full material traceability behind every feature.**

4340 steel (AMS 6415) supports less critical structural components and older landing gear designs. [It is specified for aircraft landing gear, crankshafts and heavy-duty shafts and is more machinable than 300M at comparable hardness levels.](https://steelstandart.com/grade/4340) Like 300M, it requires hydrogen bake-out after plating and shows susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement above approximately 1,400 MPa.

15-5PH stainless steel (AMS 5659) serves applications where corrosion resistance matters more than the extreme strength of 300M. [It offers approximately 1,100–1,300 MPa tensile strength at 33–38 HRC with fair machinability](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/516). That combination makes it easier to turn than hardened 300M or 4340M, though work hardening still requires controlled parameters.

Ti-6Al-4V (AMS 4928) supports main gear actuator bodies and weight-sensitive structural components. [Its thermal conductivity of approximately 6.7 W/mK](https://le-creator.com/blog/aerospace-machining) concentrates heat at the cutting edge and promotes built-up edge. Coolant strategy and edge preparation are the primary turning variables for titanium. [Titanium buy-to-fly scrap in aerospace machining ranges from 60% to 80% by weight](https://le-creator.com/blog/aerospace-machining), so trepanning and material-efficient process planning matter for large billets.

7075-T6 aluminum supports secondary structures and brackets where strength-to-weight ratio matters but steel or titanium strength is not required. It machines readily but still needs controlled surface finish and documented traceability under AS9100D programs.

Material choice drives tooling selection, cutting speeds, coolant strategy and inspection requirements. Difficult-to-machine alloys, particularly 300M at full hardness, demand stable processes, experienced programming and a supplier with documented capability on those specific materials.

## Turning Operations and Process Control

Material demands translate directly into how each turning operation is set up. OD turning of large forgings establishes the outer profile of struts and cylinders. ID boring produces the internal bore that carries hydraulic fluid or the inner piston. Both operations on long components require attention to deflection, thermal growth and workholding rigidity. [Aerospace landing gear machining requires process capability of Cpk ≥ 1.33 on critical dimensions, with gauge R&R ≤ 10% of tolerance.](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/516)

### Chatter Control on Long Overhangs

Long boring operations on landing gear strut bores sit among the most vibration-prone turning applications. Overhang enters the deflection formula to the third power and bar diameter to the fourth power. Each added millimeter of overhang multiplies deflection, while larger bar diameter sharply increases stability.

Documented techniques for chatter control on long overhangs include:

- [Anti-vibration damped boring bars with tuned mass damping, which allow machining with overhangs of up to approximately 18 times the bar diameter](https://videos.sandvik.coromant.com/coromant-webinar-tornituraofficial)
- Low-approach-angle inserts that reduce radial cutting forces and improve chip control
- Internal coolant directed at the cutting zone, which is mandatory with damped bars and protects internal damping elements
- Rigid enveloping workholding with clamping length of at least four times the bar diameter
- Attention to overhang-to-diameter ratio as the primary stability variable

[Gun drilling of 300M steel requires a minimum of 80 bar coolant pressure, with 100–140 bar recommended](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/384) for chip evacuation and tool life. Coolant temperature control also matters, because variation during a long machining cycle can cause diameter errors on long landing gear struts.

### Machine Selection for Landing Gear Turning

Machine selection follows component geometry and weight. Vertical turning lathes suit large-diameter cylindrical forgings where gravity assists workholding and the part weight makes horizontal chucking impractical. Horizontal turning centers are the standard platform for long shafts such as piston rods, where steady rests and tailstock support control deflection. Workholding for long shafts typically combines chuck support at one end with a tailstock or steady rest at intervals along the shaft.

Mill-turn centers combine live tooling, milling and turning in a single setup. This configuration is particularly relevant for actuator bodies and components with port features, flanges or pilot bores that must be concentric with the main turned diameter.

### Mill-Turn Versus Conventional Turning for Landing Gear Components

Combining turning and milling in a single setup improves concentricity of critical diameters and pilot features because the part remains in one fixture. Setup reduction also limits the accumulation of fixturing error across multiple operations. The trade-off involves programming complexity and machine investment. For components where concentricity between the bore, OD and port features appears as a drawing requirement, mill-turn becomes the process-control choice.

## Tolerances, Surface Integrity and Post-Processing

Landing gear turned parts require tight tolerances and controlled surface integrity defined by the drawing and program. [Commercial aircraft landing gear bores are typically held to H8 tolerance with straightness of 0.025 mm per 25 mm](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/516), while [military and high-performance components require H7 and tighter straightness](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/516).

![A CMM touch probe measuring a machined aluminum bracket.](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1785164194032-a09872ce26c4.webp)**Every critical dimension is verified — CMM inspection and controlled quality workflows produce first-article and in-process data you can trace to each part.**

[SAE AIR5052 sets the surface integrity requirements for landing gear bores.](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/384) Nital etch must show no grinding burns or rehardening layers, and the bore must be free of laps, tears, white layer and overtempered martensite. [Compressive residual stress at the bore surface must reach at least 200 MPa, with roughness held within ±10% of the specified Ra.](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/384) [A 2019 incident traced stress corrosion cracking in landing gear strut bores to inadequate surface finish combined with residual tensile stress from aggressive drilling parameters on 300M steel, forcing replacement of 47 main landing gear assemblies at an estimated cost exceeding USD 12 million.](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/384)

Post-processing that follows turning includes:

- [Shot peening per AMS 2430, which introduces compressive residual stress to inhibit fatigue crack initiation at fillet radii, bore surfaces and thread roots](https://vinirforge.org/blog/landing-gear-forging-commercial-aircraft-titanium-steel)
- Hard chrome or HVOF thermal spray coatings on wear surfaces and journals
- Anodizing and passivation for corrosion protection on stainless and aluminum components
- PVD coatings where drawing-specified
- Non-destructive inspection including fluorescent penetrant inspection, magnetic particle inspection and ultrasonic testing
- [Hydrogen bake-out per AMS 2759/9 after any acid exposure or plating on high-strength steel components](https://deepholedrillinghub.com/post/384)

Special processes whose results cannot be fully verified by inspecting the finished part, including shot peening, plating, anodizing and heat treatment, must be controlled and documented under NADCAP accreditation at the facility performing them. A turning supplier’s ability to coordinate and document these special processes, whether performed in-house or through qualified sub-tier suppliers, forms a qualification requirement for any landing gear program.

Precision Advanced Manufacturing integrates secondary finishing, including anodizing, passivation, plating and sandblasting, aligned to aerospace standards. This integration reduces handoffs and maintains documentation continuity across the full processing sequence.

## What to Verify in a Landing Gear Turning Supplier

Landing gear sourcing teams verify suppliers across quality systems, capability and documentation. The following checklist reflects AS9100D program requirements and common failure modes at general-purpose aerospace machining houses.

- AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 registration
- ITAR registration for defense and space programs
- First article inspection (FAI) per AS9102 with CMM reporting and ballooned drawing
- Material certifications and full serial-number traceability from heat number through finished part
- Special-process controls and coordination of NADCAP-accredited sub-tier suppliers
- Prototype-to-production scalability without a supplier change
- Engineering and manufacturability support from the outset

Precision Advanced Manufacturing meets these criteria, operating under AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR-registered quality systems with full documentation and traceability built into every production step. Capabilities include multi-axis CNC turning and milling, Swiss-type machining and experience with titanium and Inconel. Operations run across two U.S. locations in Anaheim, California, and Texas with scalable capacity from prototype through sustained, multi-shift production. That combination matters because landing gear turning rewards alloy-specific process knowledge, chatter control on long bores and a documentation chain that holds from heat number to finished part.

![A precision machine shop floor with CNC equipment and work cells.](https://cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co/1785163904437-77d81f3f11f5.webp)**Advanced manufacturing: a climate-stable shop floor where multi-axis CNC, turning, and fabrication cells work prototype-to-full-rate volumes.**

For related guidance on qualifying a U.S. aerospace machining partner, see [CNC Machining Aerospace Components: Qualify a U.S. Partner](https://precisionam.com/articles/precision-cnc-machining-aerospace-components/?utm_source=ai-growht-agent&utm_term=cnc-turning-aerospace-landing-gear) and [CNC Machining Aerospace Parts: A Procurement Playbook](https://precisionam.com/articles/cnc-machining-aerospace-parts-requirements/?utm_source=ai-growht-agent&utm_term=cnc-turning-aerospace-landing-gear).

[Request a quote](https://precisionam.com/request-a-quote/?utm_source=ai-growht-agent&utm_term=cnc-turning-aerospace-landing-gear)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What Materials Are Used for CNC-Turned Landing Gear Components?

The governing alloys are 300M and 4340 steel, 15-5PH stainless, Ti-6Al-4V and 7075-T6 aluminum, as covered above. The practical distinction is hardness and machinability: 300M at full hardness needs CBN or ceramic hard turning, while titanium and 15-5PH need coolant and parameter control for built-up edge and work hardening.

### How Is Chatter Controlled When Boring Long Landing Gear Bores?

Chatter control relies on damped boring bars, low-approach-angle inserts, internal coolant and rigid workholding with controlled overhang. Overhang-to-diameter ratio dominates deflection, so programs minimize overhang and maximize bar diameter before tuning speeds and feeds.

### What Post-Processing Follows Turning of Landing Gear Parts?

Typical sequences combine shot peening, coatings, corrosion protection and non-destructive inspection, with hydrogen bake-out on high-strength steels. The exact route follows the drawing, AMS specifications and OEM requirements described in the tolerances and post-processing section.

### What Should Be Verified in a Landing Gear Turning Supplier?

Verification covers certified quality systems, ITAR registration, FAI capability, traceability, NADCAP-controlled special processes and scalable capacity. Documented experience with the specific alloys on the drawing, particularly 300M at high hardness, strengthens that qualification.

### Can Production Scale from Prototype to Full Rate?

Precision Advanced Manufacturing supports the full product lifecycle from prototype development through sustained, multi-shift production. Programs can transition from initial design validation through full-rate manufacturing without a supplier change, maintaining the same quality systems, documentation and traceability established during prototyping. Scalable production capacity runs across the company’s Anaheim, California, and Texas locations.

## Conclusion and Next Steps

Turning landing gear components functions as a process-control and qualification challenge as much as a machining task. The alloys are demanding, the bores are long, the surface integrity requirements are structural and the documentation chain must hold from raw material through final inspection. Precision Advanced Manufacturing provides CNC turning for aerospace landing gear components and combines multi-axis CNC turning and milling, deep-hole and mill-turn capability and engineering support under AS910D- and ITAR-registered quality systems, with full traceability from prototype through full-rate production across its U.S. locations in Anaheim, California, and Texas.

Recommended next steps are to assemble the drawing and specification package, confirm certification and traceability requirements with the program quality plan and submit a quote request for project evaluation. For additional context on aerospace machining qualification and process planning, see [CNC Machining for Aerospace Engine Parts: A Practical Guide](https://precisionam.com/articles/cnc-machining-aerospace-engine-parts/?utm_source=ai-growht-agent&utm_term=cnc-turning-aerospace-landing-gear) and [Precision CNC Machining for Aerospace: Evaluating Partners](https://precisionam.com/articles/precision-cnc-machining-aerospace/?utm_source=ai-growht-agent&utm_term=cnc-turning-aerospace-landing-gear).

[Request a quote for a landing gear turning program](https://precisionam.com/request-a-quote/?utm_source=ai-growht-agent&utm_term=cnc-turning-aerospace-landing-gear)

## Read Next

- [Precision CNC Machining Aluminum: An Aerospace Framework](https://precisionam.com/articles/precision-cnc-machining-aluminum/)
- [CNC Machining Aerospace Components: Qualify a U.S. Partner](https://precisionam.com/articles/precision-cnc-machining-aerospace-components/)
- [Precision CNC Machining for Aerospace: Evaluating Partners](https://precisionam.com/articles/precision-cnc-machining-aerospace/)
- [CNC Machining Aerospace Engine Parts: A Buyer’s Guide](https://precisionam.com/articles/cnc-machining-aerospace-engine-parts/)
- [CNC Machining for Military Aircraft Components](https://precisionam.com/articles/cnc-machining-military-aircraft-components/)

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    **Question:**

    - **Name:** What Materials Are Used for CNC-Turned Landing Gear Components?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** The governing alloys are 300M and 4340 steel, 15-5PH stainless, Ti-6Al-4V and 7075-T6 aluminum, as covered above. The practical distinction is hardness and machinability: 300M at full hardness needs CBN or ceramic hard turning, while titanium and 15-5PH need coolant and parameter control for built-up edge and work hardening.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** How Is Chatter Controlled When Boring Long Landing Gear Bores?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** Chatter control relies on damped boring bars, low-approach-angle inserts, internal coolant and rigid workholding with controlled overhang. Overhang-to-diameter ratio dominates deflection, so programs minimize overhang and maximize bar diameter before tuning speeds and feeds.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** What Post-Processing Follows Turning of Landing Gear Parts?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** Typical sequences combine shot peening, coatings, corrosion protection and non-destructive inspection, with hydrogen bake-out on high-strength steels. The exact route follows the drawing, AMS specifications and OEM requirements described in the tolerances and post-processing section.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** What Should Be Verified in a Landing Gear Turning Supplier?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** Verification covers certified quality systems, ITAR registration, FAI capability, traceability, NADCAP-controlled special processes and scalable capacity. Documented experience with the specific alloys on the drawing, particularly 300M at high hardness, strengthens that qualification.
    **Question:**

    - **Name:** Can Production Scale from Prototype to Full Rate?
      **Answer:**

      - **Text:** Precision Advanced Manufacturing supports the full product lifecycle from prototype development through sustained, multi-shift production. Programs can transition from initial design validation through full-rate manufacturing without a supplier change, maintaining the same quality systems, documentation and traceability established during prototyping. Scalable production capacity runs across the company’s Anaheim, California, and Texas locations.

  **Article:**

  - **Headline:** CNC Turning for Aerospace Landing Gear Components
  - **Description:** Precision Advanced Manufacturing turns landing gear parts in aerospace alloys. Explore operations, tolerances and supplier qualification. Get a quote.
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## Citations

- [Precision CNC Machining for Aerospace: A Buyer’s Guide](https://precisionam.com/articles/aerospace/precision-cnc-machining-aerospace-guide/)
- [Space Qualified CNC Machining: A Buyer’s Qualification Guide](https://precisionam.com/articles/aerospace/space-qualified-cnc-machining-guide/)
- [ITAR CNC Machining for Military Aircraft: A Supplier Guide](https://precisionam.com/articles/aerospace/itar-cnc-machining-military-aircraft/)
- [Titanium CNC Machining for Aerospace: Grades & Compliance](https://precisionam.com/articles/aerospace/titanium-cnc-machining-aerospace/)
- [Aerospace CNC Machining Lead Times: A Phase-By-Phase Guide](https://precisionam.com/articles/aerospace/aerospace-cnc-machining-lead-times/)

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