Why Metal 3D Printers in the Airline Industry?
Improved component performance by adopting a design based on computer analysis
In Europe and the U.S., the development of components for metallic 3D printers in the airline industry is one of the biggest markets, with remarkable progress in the adoption of designs based on computer analysis.
Parts made by metallic 3D printers have already been mounted on actual machines and put to practical use.
A universal challenge in the aviation industry is how to improve performance while ensuring component strength and weight reduction.
In response, metal 3D printers can be modeled using optimized design technology* based on computer analysis.
* Topology Optimization, Generative Design, etc.
Optimized models that are difficult to manufacture with ordinary machine tools can be modeled with metallic 3D printers.
Fuel economy
Improving fuel efficiency and improving strength
Similar to the automobile industry, weight reduction of parts is indispensable for improving fuel efficiency.
The number of parts required per passenger aircraft ranges from 3 to 4 million, which is said to be about 100 times more than the number of parts for automobiles.
Amid growing interest in reducing environmental impact, improving fuel efficiency is a major challenge for the aviation industry. At the same time, because it is important to ensure safety, we are constantly seeking to improve the strength of parts.
Optimization of the three-dimensional structure
For example, it is said that the performance of jet engines improves output and efficiency in proportion to the temperature of the combustion gas.
High performance turbine blades exposed to high temperatures are achieved by arranging appropriate cooling structures in three dimensions.
Integrated structure
The metal 3D printer enables integrated structures, which reduces weight by reducing the number of parts, leading to improved fuel efficiency.
By creating complex shapes that do not require welding, durability can be improved.
Cost reduction
Cost reductions
Lightweight and durable metal alloy materials such as titanium are widely used for aircraft parts, but their high strength makes cutting difficult and costly, making some designs difficult to manufacture using conventional methods.
With metallic 3D printers that mold only the parts that are needed, we can expect to reduce the cost of processing as well as the cost of raw materials.
Example with turbine impeller sample
Comparison of volume between bulk materials and shaped parts
With metallic 3D printers that mold only the parts that are needed, the cutting portion can be drastically reduced, and we can expect to reduce processing and raw materials costs.
sample
Airline industry-related samples
You can check the details by clicking on the sample photo.
