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High speed machining of aluminum and magnesium helicopter gearcases was experimentally demonstrated to be five times more productive than contemporary conventional commercial practice for suitable operations. Appropriate techniques and performance characteristics are discussed for face milling, endmilling and planetary milling operations. Potential problem areas, such as surface characteristics and machine tool performance requirements are discussed.

There is an increased interest in spatially-variable field operations, especially fertilizer application. Design concepts for mobile equipment to vary fluid fertilizer rate and mixture are presented and discussed. The potential systems vary the fertilizer component flowrates by changing centrifugal pump speed or by controlling recirculation valves. Although more complex, and hence costly, than conventional machines, spatially-variable fluid fertilizer applicators appear to be feasible utilizing currently-available commercial components.