--- title: "Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing | AS9100 & ITAR Shops | OpenSpindle" description: "Find independent machine shops for aerospace and defense parts. AS9100, NADCAP, and ITAR-registered shops for flight-critical and defense hardware. Upload a drawing." canonical: https://openspindle.com/industries/aerospace-defense --- # Aerospace and defense manufacturing partners Flight-critical and defense hardware demands tight tolerances, traceability, and the right certifications. Find independent machine shops set up for aerospace and defense work, then talk directly to the shop making your part. **Certifications:** AS9100, NADCAP, ITAR Registered, CMMC, ISO 9001 ## Aerospace and defense shops on OpenSpindle Real shops that machine and fabricate aerospace and defense parts. See their equipment and certifications, and talk to the person making your part. [Browse all aerospace and defense shops](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?q=Aerospace) ## Certifications For aerospace and defense work, the certification is often the gate. Look for these on a shop before you send a controlled drawing, and confirm the specific scope for your part. - **AS9100:** The aerospace quality management standard (built on ISO 9001 with aviation, space, and defense requirements). The baseline expectation for flight hardware and most tier-one supply chains. - **NADCAP:** Accreditation for special processes such as heat treat, welding, non-destructive testing, and chemical processing. Often required per-process on aerospace prints. - **ITAR Registered:** Registration with the U.S. State Department to handle defense articles and technical data under the export regulations. Required for controlled defense work. - **CMMC:** The Department of Defense cybersecurity maturity standard for shops handling controlled unclassified information (CUI) in the defense supply chain. - **ISO 9001:** The general quality management baseline. Common on shops that also carry AS9100, and sufficient on non-flight and commercial-aerospace parts. ## Capabilities for This Industry - [5-Axis Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/5-axis-machining.md) -- Complex contoured brackets, housings, and structural parts in a single setup. - [CNC Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-machining.md) -- Milled prismatic parts and fixtures from aluminum, titanium, and stainless. - [CNC Turning](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-turning.md) -- Turned shafts, fittings, pins, and bushings to tight tolerances. - [EDM & Wire EDM](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/edm.md) -- Hardened alloys, fine detail, and features milling cannot reach. - [Waterjet Cutting](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/waterjet-cutting.md) -- Cold cutting for thick plate and composites with no heat-affected edge. - [Welding](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/welding.md) -- TIG welded assemblies in aluminum, stainless, and titanium. ## Common Materials - [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md) -- 7075, 2024, and 6061 for structural and lightweight parts. - [Titanium](https://openspindle.com/materials/titanium.md) -- Grade 5 for strength-to-weight and high-temperature parts. - [Stainless Steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md) -- 17-4 PH and 15-5 PH for high-strength corrosion-resistant hardware. - [Carbon & Alloy Steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/carbon-steel.md) -- 4140 and 4340 for high-strength structural and landing-gear parts. - [PEEK](https://openspindle.com/materials/peek.md) -- High-temperature, chemical-resistant polymer for lightweighting. ## Typical Parts - Structural brackets - Housings & enclosures - Fittings & fasteners - Shafts & pins - Manifolds & valve bodies - Bushings & bearings - Panels & skins - Instrument housings ## Why OpenSpindle - **Talk directly to the shop:** No account manager in the middle. You work with the shop actually making your part, which matters when a drawing needs a real engineering conversation. - **No sales gate:** Upload a drawing and request quotes without a sales rep or account manager in the middle. Faster than the login-walled portals. - **Compare multiple shops:** See several independent shops with the certifications your part needs, and compare quotes rather than taking a single price. - **Certifications up front:** Shops list their AS9100, NADCAP, ITAR, and CMMC status on their profile, so you can shortlist before you send a controlled drawing. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I get ITAR-compliant parts made? Yes. Filter to ITAR-registered shops and confirm the scope for your specific part and technical data. ITAR-registered shops on OpenSpindle handle defense articles under the export regulations; always confirm registration and data-handling directly with the shop before transmitting controlled drawings. ### Do the shops hold AS9100? Many aerospace shops on OpenSpindle carry AS9100, and they list it on their profile alongside NADCAP and ISO 9001. For flight-critical hardware, shortlist AS9100 shops and confirm the certification is current and covers your process. ### Can I get low-volume or prototype aerospace parts? Yes. Independent shops routinely quote single prototypes, qualification lots, and low-rate production. Expect a setup charge on one-offs that drops on repeat orders. Note your quantity and any first-article inspection (FAI) requirement in the request. ### What tolerances can aerospace shops hold? Precision aerospace shops commonly hold milled features to around plus or minus 0.002 inch and turned diameters tighter, with grinding and EDM for the critical features. Call out the datums, critical dimensions, and inspection level (including FAI or CMM reports) on your drawing. ### Which materials are common for aerospace and defense? Aluminum (7075, 2024, 6061), titanium (Grade 5), high-strength stainless (17-4 PH, 15-5 PH), alloy steels (4140, 4340), and high-temperature polymers like PEEK. Note the alloy and temper, plus any material certifications or traceability you need. ### Do shops provide material certs and traceability? Aerospace and defense shops typically provide material certifications, certificates of conformance, and full lot traceability. Specify the documentation and any source-inspection requirements in your request so shops quote them in. ### What files should I send for a quote? STEP, IGES, X_T, or a fully dimensioned PDF drawing with datums, GD&T, material and finish, quantity, and inspection requirements. Flag any export-controlled data so shops handle it correctly. ## Related Industries - [Medical Devices](https://openspindle.com/industries/medical-devices.md) - [Robotics & Automation](https://openspindle.com/industries/robotics-automation.md) - [Energy / Oil & Gas](https://openspindle.com/industries/energy-oil-gas.md) - [Electronics](https://openspindle.com/industries/electronics.md) - [Automotive](https://openspindle.com/industries/automotive.md) - [Architecture & Construction](https://openspindle.com/industries/architecture-engineering-construction.md) ## Get aerospace and defense quotes Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent shops with the certifications your part needs.