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VIDEO: How Additive Manufacturing Simplifies Complex Assemblies

At engineering.com - VIDEO: How Additive Manufacturing Simplifies Complex Assemblies - May 29, 2017

“GE Additive’s concept is that we’re going to sell this technology with Concept Laser and Arcam and reach out to the consumer base to help them with our design services,” explained Tim Warden, sr. sales director at GE Additive. “Our experience in the aviation world can really help them shorten the learning curve and help manufacturers find the right applications for this technology.”

“It all comes down to what the customer is looking for,” Warden said. “Maybe you’re looking for a quick turnaround part to get into production; other people are thinking of taking models and reducing part count, like we did with the advanced turboprop program. We broke down the entire engine and took 855 parts down to 12. We had 33 to 35 different suppliers and got that down to one–ourselves–for that production program.”

GE Aviation turned to AM to develop the LEAP fuel nozzle, turning what used to be a complex assembly into a single part. The LEAP engine, currently undergoing test flights, uses 19 of these 3D-printed fuel nozzles.

GE saw advantages and cost savings to the process not only in part count reduction, but also in light weighting and time to market.

When asked whether the technology will work its way down the supply chain in industries like automotive, Warden was optimistic.

“Right now, the machines are still expensive, but when you really think about aviation, we’re making parts that cost as much as a car in some applications. However, machines will get faster and become more affordable.”


Published on May 29, 2017
GE Additive expert hopeful that industrial 3D printing will become faster and more affordable. Read the original article: http://bit.ly/2setfll