why your next airplane might be 3d printed
GE\'s Michael o\'dwyerby 2020 will produce more than 100,000 manufacturing components for its commercial and military engine lines.
From Boeing\'s new 737 MAX to Blackhawk and Apache helicopters, these components are critical to the aircraft.
Surprisingly, these components will be produced using 3D printing technology.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process in which a powder made of various materials such as plastic and metal is melted and printed layer by layer to make the product.
But how likely is the component to fail when you think 3D printing is relatively high?
According to Ge, there is no basis for such concerns.
Because every step is high
GE Aviation says it can maintain the quality standards of all components, like any other manufacturing process.
3D printing started with the humble beginnings of prototyping, improved structural integrity and quality control, and developed in multiple industries. Rakhi M.
Makad, industry head and head of the Manufacturing Innovation Program at Infosys, said, \"3D printing is becoming more and more popular when starting to adopt fast prototypes and turn to jewelry, toys and medical care (
Limbs and organs)industries.
\"It has finally found a place in manufacturing organizations that are increasingly using 3D printing,\" Makad added . \".
Traditional manufacturing techniques require several separate processes to make a single component.
However, a 3D print can produce the entire assembly without the need for additional welding or assembly, as the parts are printed in layers.
Nevertheless, the use of this technology, especially in the case of endangering human life, requires a higher level of quality control. In-
Process monitoring and post
Process inspection using X-
For example, light is essential.
\"There are two components of the actual inspection process-structural integrity and dimensional inspection-that are critical in this application,\" said Steve Rengers, head of aviation R & D at GE . \".
\"If defects are detected in the early stages of printing, catastrophic defects will be discarded, while additional verification checks will be performed on other defects.
\"Then check the components again after production.
Rengers explained, \"Once printed, each component will go into the inspection process, assemble it, go through another inspection process, and then for the minimum CNC [
Mechanical process of computer numerical control, milling or polishing].
3D printing is very different from the traditional manufacturing technology.
Traditional casting and forging, for example, have a long cooling process, but 3D printing requires rapid cooling at GE airlines.
That makes the analysis process complicated, Rengers added.
However, \"Some universities are working on 3D modeling techniques that can predict material behavior in this case.
\"Rengers believes that with the generation of tb-level data, GE Aviation is at the forefront of 3D printing data analysis.
\"In general, multiple sensors and parameters are constantly monitored during the build process.
This data is captured and analyzed in real time.
\"Other data storage and analysis will take longer,\" Rengers said . \".
Howard Wood, director of 3D Printing Co. , Ltd. , said, \"this information and process [data gathered]
Researchers can be used to study the performance of new materials.
He added, \"deflection, shrinkage and expansion of materials during 3D printing may also help to develop new technologies, new additives and possible new uses for 3D printing products.
\"The combined power of big data analytics and 3D printing will open up design space and allow performance improvements across all industries,\" said Rengers.
However, there are still some challenges to 3D printing.
Makad of Infosys said, \"for the rapid development of the industry, the challenges that need to be overcome include intellectual property rights and laws surrounding infringement of intellectual property rights;
Provide consulting capabilities for manufacturing organizations on strategy, charter and adoption of 3D printing technology.
\"In addition, the lack of employees with relevant skills in the fields of additives, 3D modeling, manufacturing and design can create obstacles.
Companies that consider investing in 3D printing should consider their options wisely.
\"Please note that there are many people who are trying to make a quick dollar by making so many promises through this technology and offering very little,\" Wood warned . \".
Michael O\'Dwyer is a freelance writer living in Hong Kong.
He has worked in the electronics industry for 15 years managing information technology, process improvement and supply chain.
Michael has written about IT and related topics for various online portals.
From Boeing\'s new 737 MAX to Blackhawk and Apache helicopters, these components are critical to the aircraft.
Surprisingly, these components will be produced using 3D printing technology.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process in which a powder made of various materials such as plastic and metal is melted and printed layer by layer to make the product.
But how likely is the component to fail when you think 3D printing is relatively high?
According to Ge, there is no basis for such concerns.
Because every step is high
GE Aviation says it can maintain the quality standards of all components, like any other manufacturing process.
3D printing started with the humble beginnings of prototyping, improved structural integrity and quality control, and developed in multiple industries. Rakhi M.
Makad, industry head and head of the Manufacturing Innovation Program at Infosys, said, \"3D printing is becoming more and more popular when starting to adopt fast prototypes and turn to jewelry, toys and medical care (
Limbs and organs)industries.
\"It has finally found a place in manufacturing organizations that are increasingly using 3D printing,\" Makad added . \".
Traditional manufacturing techniques require several separate processes to make a single component.
However, a 3D print can produce the entire assembly without the need for additional welding or assembly, as the parts are printed in layers.
Nevertheless, the use of this technology, especially in the case of endangering human life, requires a higher level of quality control. In-
Process monitoring and post
Process inspection using X-
For example, light is essential.
\"There are two components of the actual inspection process-structural integrity and dimensional inspection-that are critical in this application,\" said Steve Rengers, head of aviation R & D at GE . \".
\"If defects are detected in the early stages of printing, catastrophic defects will be discarded, while additional verification checks will be performed on other defects.
\"Then check the components again after production.
Rengers explained, \"Once printed, each component will go into the inspection process, assemble it, go through another inspection process, and then for the minimum CNC [
Mechanical process of computer numerical control, milling or polishing].
3D printing is very different from the traditional manufacturing technology.
Traditional casting and forging, for example, have a long cooling process, but 3D printing requires rapid cooling at GE airlines.
That makes the analysis process complicated, Rengers added.
However, \"Some universities are working on 3D modeling techniques that can predict material behavior in this case.
\"Rengers believes that with the generation of tb-level data, GE Aviation is at the forefront of 3D printing data analysis.
\"In general, multiple sensors and parameters are constantly monitored during the build process.
This data is captured and analyzed in real time.
\"Other data storage and analysis will take longer,\" Rengers said . \".
Howard Wood, director of 3D Printing Co. , Ltd. , said, \"this information and process [data gathered]
Researchers can be used to study the performance of new materials.
He added, \"deflection, shrinkage and expansion of materials during 3D printing may also help to develop new technologies, new additives and possible new uses for 3D printing products.
\"The combined power of big data analytics and 3D printing will open up design space and allow performance improvements across all industries,\" said Rengers.
However, there are still some challenges to 3D printing.
Makad of Infosys said, \"for the rapid development of the industry, the challenges that need to be overcome include intellectual property rights and laws surrounding infringement of intellectual property rights;
Provide consulting capabilities for manufacturing organizations on strategy, charter and adoption of 3D printing technology.
\"In addition, the lack of employees with relevant skills in the fields of additives, 3D modeling, manufacturing and design can create obstacles.
Companies that consider investing in 3D printing should consider their options wisely.
\"Please note that there are many people who are trying to make a quick dollar by making so many promises through this technology and offering very little,\" Wood warned . \".
Michael O\'Dwyer is a freelance writer living in Hong Kong.
He has worked in the electronics industry for 15 years managing information technology, process improvement and supply chain.
Michael has written about IT and related topics for various online portals.
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