Ruckus Composites, Aerospace grows in-house composites machining, measurement and inspection

Ruckus Composites and Ruckus Aerospace (Portland, Ore., U.S.) are kicking off the new year with major technology upgrades, expanding its precision machining, measurement and ultrasound inspection capabilities. Accordingly, these investments will enable Ruckus to add to its in-housing manufacturing and quality control capabilities for composites repair, aerospace inspection and high-performance part production.

Ruckus Composites specializes in composites repair and manufacturing for the cycling industry, while Ruckus Aerospace brings high-tech nondestructive inspection and precision engineering to aerospace and industrial applications. As demand for advanced composite inspection and precision machining grows, Ruckus is committed to staying ahead with the latest additions:

• Immersion phased array ultrasound three-axis XYZ scanner: High-resolution scanning for detecting barely visible impact damage (BVID) and internal defects in composite structures.
• Immersion phased array ultrasound tube scanner: Specialized inspection for cylindrical composite components, ensuring flawless structural integrity.
• Hurco Vmone vertical machining center (VMC): A CNC milling solution for rapid prototyping and precision component manufacturing.
• Prototrak Toolroom CNC lathe: Enhancing Ruckus’ ability to produce custom parts with tight tolerances.
• Faro arm coordinate measuring machine (CMM): This brings metrology-grade accuracy to the company’s inspection processes, ensuring every part meets the highest standards.

According to the company, having these tools in-house will streamline its repair and manufacturing process, reducing lead times and improving turnaround. Inspection capabilities are expanded, including offering nondestructive evaluation (NDE) with increased precision. Ruckus can support more complex projects, from aerospace structural health monitoring to high-performance cycling component refinement. Additionally, the equipment investments will enhance Ruckus’ data-driven approach, ensuring every repair, component and inspection is backed by advanced measurement techniques.

“We’re always focusing on continuous improvement and bringing more capabilities under one roof, and these upgrades allow us to offer even more value to our customers,” says Shawn Small, owner and engineer at Ruckus Composites and Ruckus Aerospace. “Whether it’s ensuring aerospace structures are flight-ready or pushing the boundaries of composite repair, we’re all in on precision, efficiency and innovation.”