faceplate (lathe component). A heavy steel disk mounted on and turned by the headstock of a metalworking lathe.
Work to be turned on the lathe can be mounted on the faceplate.
face shield. A transparent shield used to cover your face when working with anything that could get into your eyes or with anything that could damage your face. Face shields are made of transparent plastic and are attached to a band worn around your head. Face shields should be worn when working with metal-cutting tools that are likely to throw chips, when using a grinding wheel, and when servicing an air conditioning system with liquid refrigerant.
face-to-face bearing installation. Ball bearings designed to take thrust loads that are applied to a shaft in both directions. Two sets of bearings are installed on the shaft in such a way that one set carries thrust loads in one direction, and the other set carries the loads in the opposite direction.
fading (radio reception). The decrease in strength of a received radio signal.
facsimile. A means of communications in which a graphic document is scanned and the image converted into digital data which is transmitted over telephone lines or by radio waves. At the receiving end, the data is processed in a printer, and a paper copy of the original document is produced.
factor of safety (aircraft structure). The ratio of the breaking strength of a structure to the maximum load that will ever be applied to it. If a structure is designed to carry a load of 2,000 pounds, but there will never be a load of more than 1,000 pounds applied to it, the structure has a factor of safety of two.
FAD (fuel advisory departure). Procedures used to minimize engine running time for aircraft destined for an airport experiencing prolonged arrival delays.
FADEC (full-authority digital electronic control). A digital electronic fuel control for a gas turbine engine that functions during all engine operations, hence “full-authority.” It includes the electronic engine control (See EEC), functions with the flight management computer (See FMC), and schedules the fuel to the nozzles in such a way that prevents overshooting of power changes and over-temperature conditions.
FADEC furnishes information to the engine instrument and crew alerting system (See EICAS).
fading of brakes. The decrease in the amount of braking action that occurs with some types of brakes that are applied for a long period of time. True fading occurs with overheated drum-type brakes. As the drum is heated, it expands in a bell-mouthed fashion. This decreases the amount of drum in contact with the brake shoes and decreases the braking action.