Control Surface Hinge Pins

Name: Aerospace Control Hinge Pins & Surface Pivot Rods – Frigate
Price: 249.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Control surface hinge pins are manufactured to tight dimensional tolerances—typically H7/g6 or better—based on bearing fit requirements. These precise fits eliminate radial and axial clearance, preventing oscillation during both servo-driven and manual actuation.

Material Specification

Stainless Steel (AISI 440C), Titanium 6Al-4V (Grade 5), or Alloy Steel (AISI 4340)

Diameter

6mm – 25mm (Standard sizes: 8mm, 12mm, 16mm)

Length

30mm – 200mm (Custom lengths available with ±0.1mm tolerance)

Head/Retaining Feature Design

Grooved for C-clips (DIN 471), Threaded ends (M6–M12), Flanged heads (Per MS/NAS standards)

Bearing Surface Finish

Ra ≤ 0.4 µm (Superfinish ground), Hard Chrome Plated (Optional, 0.02–0.05mm thick)

Product Description

This ensures accurate control surface deflection and minimizes elastic recovery, which is especially critical in high-frequency environments like UAV rudders or supersonic stabilizers, where precision and stability are paramount.

Hardness

58–62 HRC (440C), 36–40 HRC (Ti-6Al-4V), 50–54 HRC (4340, case-hardened)

Shear Strength/Bending Strength

Shear – 600–1,200 MPa, Bending – 900–1,500 MPa (Validated per ASTM E8/E290)

Surface Treatment

Passivation (Stainless Steel), Anodizing (Titanium), Zinc-Nickel Plating (Alloy Steel)

Dimensional Tolerances

±0.01mm (Diameter), ±0.05mm (Length), Straightness ≤0.02mm/m

Certification Standards

AMS 5643 (Stainless Steel), AMS 4928 (Titanium), ISO 9001/AS9100, MIL-P-5031

Technical Advantages

Cross-sectional geometry is selected based on fatigue-critical regions observed through FEA under repeated flap or elevator actuation. Control surface hinge pins are processed from vacuum-melted alloys with a high endurance limit and fine-grain structure, minimizing initiation points for microcracks. Edge transitions and fillets are CNC-ground to sub-micron smoothness to avoid geometric stress risers at the pin-shoulder junctions.

Surface treatments such as nitriding, cadmium plating, or PVD coatings are applied based on operating climate and contact material. These treatments inhibit oxide formation while maintaining low surface roughness to minimize abrasive wear against bushings or needle bearings. Diffusion layers are engineered for minimal thickness deviation to preserve interference fit integrity during long-term environmental exposure.

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Industry Applications

Fixed-Wing Aircraft Stabilizers

Transfers hinge loads in elevator and rudder systems, ensuring fatigue resistance during cyclic pitch and yaw maneuvers.

Helicopter Tail Rotors

Provides rotational alignment and shear load transfer between control rods and pitch links in variable-angle tail rotor systems.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Supports compact actuation hinges with micro-clearance fits to prevent flutter in lightweight, high-frequency deflection environments.

Supersonic Control Surfaces

Withstands extreme dynamic pressure and thermal expansion loads on elevons and ruddervators in supersonic flight regimes.

Military Trainer Aircraft

Maintains precise deflection in control surfaces during repeated high-g maneuvers typical in aerobatic and combat training profiles.

Space Launch Vehicle Grid Fins

Transmits actuation loads through high-strength hinges during aerodynamic steering phases in suborbital or re-entry flight conditions.

Axial Retention and Shear Transfer Assurance

Retaining mechanisms such as precision-ground grooves, circlip seats, or through-hole configurations are integrated based on hinge assembly design. Shear transfer zones are calculated for optimal engagement with control horn and bearing housing without introducing bending moments that may induce lateral displacement. High-strength stainless steels or maraging alloys are selected to accommodate combined axial and torsional loads under actuation.

Concentricity between shaft axis, head geometry, and retaining features is held within 0.005 mm to ensure balanced load transfer across bearing faces. This uniformity eliminates eccentric wear patterns, particularly in asymmetrically loaded control surfaces like rudder-vator assemblies. Concentric pin design also simplifies modal analysis for vibration-sensitive control modules.

Having Doubts? Our FAQ

Check all our Frequently Asked Question

How does Frigate ensure concentricity in hinge pins for balanced load transfer?

Frigate uses precision CNC turning and grinding processes to maintain concentricity within ±0.005 mm between shaft, head, and groove features. This avoids asymmetric loading on control surface bearings, which can cause uneven wear or hinge binding. Every pin undergoes CMM inspection for geometric accuracy. This ensures stable actuation and consistent load paths under dynamic flight conditions.

What testing does Frigate perform to validate hinge pin performance under cyclic load conditions?

Frigate conducts fatigue testing that simulates high-cycle actuation environments using servo-hydraulic test rigs. These tests verify resistance to crack initiation and propagation under combined shear and bending loads. Material and coating integrity are also evaluated after the cycle tests. This helps ensure the control surface hinge pins maintain mechanical integrity across extended operational life.

How does Frigate address galvanic compatibility between control surface hinge pins and adjoining control surfaces?

Frigate selects coatings such as cadmium or zinc-nickel plating to prevent galvanic reactions with aluminum or titanium hinge arms. Each coating is applied to controlled thicknesses to avoid dimensional distortion. Compatibility is verified through salt spray and galvanic current testing. This protects against electrochemical corrosion in mixed-metal assemblies.

What options does Frigate provide for control surface hinge pins retention mechanisms in aerospace assemblies?

Frigate offers design variations including through-hole locking, external grooves, and captive collars based on the customer’s hinge housing architecture. Retention features are analyzed using FEA for stress distribution under vibrational loads. Material hardness and groove depth are optimized to prevent wear during oscillation. These designs are validated through mechanical pull-out and endurance testing.

How does Frigate support hinge pin integration into automated control surface assembly lines?

Frigate provides hinge pins with high dimensional repeatability and smooth finishes for seamless robotic installation. Tolerance stack-up is minimized using GD&T-driven machining workflows. Pins are supplied with batch-specific inspection data and serialized tracking. This allows direct integration into automated fixtures with minimal handling or secondary alignment processes.

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Registered Office

10-A, First Floor, V.V Complex, Prakash Nagar, Thiruverumbur, Trichy-620013, Tamil Nadu, India.

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9/1, Poonthottam Nagar, Ramanandha Nagar, Saravanampatti, Coimbatore-641035, Tamil Nadu, India. ㅤ

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