Page 60 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 Online Magazine

MRO TRENDS

Leap of Faith

3D printing is rapidly emerging as a viable technology for the aerospace industry
By Our Special Correspondent

AddITIVE MANUFACTURING (AM), ALSO link and fitting assembly for the engine
known as 3D printing, will be one of the major nacelle. The link and fitting assembly is one of
disruptive revolutions in the aerospace four that secure the Osprey’s engine nacelle
sector. There is still much to be done however, to its primary wing structure. In addition to
and like most technological developments, it the V-22 link and fitting assembly, the U.S.
is the military that is investing in exploring Navy team plans to build and test AM parts
the spectrum of 3D printing. The U.S. Naval in 2017 for three U.S. Marine Corps rotorcraft
Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has already platforms: Bell Boeing V-22 tiltrotor, Bell H-1
performed a successful flight demonstration and Sikorsky CH-53K rotorcraft. Three of
of an aircraft fitted with a flight critical the parts will be made from titanium and the
aircraft component built using additive remaining from stainless steel. The U.S. Navy has test flown an
MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor, fitted
manufacturing techniques. The flight which According to the international standards with a flight safety critical aircraft
took place in July, last year, marked the first organisation ASTM International; Additive component produced using 3D
time that a U.S. Navy aircraft flew with an AM manufacturing is defined as the process printing techniques. The titanium,
part that was essential to flight safety. The of joining materials together, layer by 3-D printed link and fitting
assembly is one of four used to
aircraft was a Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey layer, based on 3D model data. It increases secure the Osprey’s engine nacelle
tiltrotor, outfitted with a titanium, 3D printed design possibilities, enhances the speed to its primary wing structure

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