Biggest, Fastest Titanium 3D Printer

Design News ^ | 10/9/12 | Ann R. Thryft, Senior Technical Editor, Materials & Assembly

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A manufacturing research pact among Airbus, aerostructure manufacturer Aerosud, and the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), reportedly aims to develop the biggest, fastest 3D printer possible for making titanium aircraft and satellite components.

Airbus' entrance into the agreement is for testing the viability of components made with the process. The project, called Aeroswift, actually began earlier this year when Aerosud and the South African CSIR's National Laser Centre agreed to work together to slash the production costs of aerospace components using laser additive manufacturing (LAM), another name for selective laser sintering (SLS). It focuses on using titanium powders for the production of large, complex components.

Airbus, aerostructure manufacturer Aerosud, and the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, are partnering to develop the biggest, fastest 3D printer possible for making titanium aircraft and satellite components. Shown here, the Airbus A380 demonstrator aircraft arrives at the 2012 Farnborough International Airport.
(Source: Airbus)

According to a CSIR press release, at the announcement of this partnership in Johannesburg, Airbus's Dale King said the CSIR and Aerosud are the only organizations doing work on high-speed, large-volume additive laser manufacturing. "That is why we have decided to forge a partnership with them [the CSIR and Aerosud]," King is quoted as saying. "We came to South Africa for this project because we believe the country has the necessary skills and competencies in the field of LAM."

A prototype LAM system will be completed by mid 2013, and is expected to produce large, complex parts at a rate 10 times faster than traditional manufacturing methods, said Beeuwen Gerryts, chief director of South Africa's Department of Science and Technology, in a September 14 press release. The Department has been championing the development of a broad titanium industry in South Africa, from mining the raw mineral, to producing metal powder, all the way to forming components. South Africa is currently the second largest supplier of titanium ore, but does not export semi-finished or finished titanium products.

The consortium expects to conduct two years of testing, evaluation, and process development to determine whether the parts can be used in aircraft. "The signing of this collaboration agreement represents a major step in ensuring that we develop laser additive manufacturing (LAM) technologies with inputs from our industry partners to make sure that these technologies are relevant when they are commercialised," Dr. Ndumiso Cingo, manager of the National Laser Centre, is quoted as saying in the CSIR press release.

Titanium has been used for several years in the manufacturing of aircraft components, primarily via machining. Earlier this year, Dynamet Technology received a milestone qualification approval from Boeing for supplying Ti-6Al-4V alloy products created with powder metals for structural components on commercial aircraft. Dynamet's process produces PM titanium in basic shapes and near-net shape forms by combining cold consolidation of blended elemental titanium, and alloy powders with vacuum sintering.

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• 3D Composites Can Make Parts Cheaper
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• Slideshow: 3D Materials Drive Additive Manufacturing
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Ping to a possibly interested set of characters...

[Carriage Hill]

The hopper for the raw material must be the size of several side-by-side boxcars.

[JRandomFreeper]

Interesting.

/johnny

[Vince Ferrer]

3-D laser sintering technology creates possibility of significant weight savings in aircraft fabrication

[GraceG]

Can it print gun parts?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2942227/posts

[GraceG]

3-D Scintering Laser tech is what is needed after you start mining materials on the moon for creating a self sufficent moon base. With that you could make replacement parts at first and then start whole bases using this tech.

If you had a 3-D scintering laser titanium / aluminium printer on the moon you could BUILD spacecraft on the moon that could then be used to help colonize mars and the rest of the solar system.

All you need is a mining tech that can create the “feedstock” in the form of pure metallic dust. Which in a vaccum is a lot easier to make than in a atmosphere.

Next best thing to a star trek style replicator!

[Lx]

Can it print engines??

I’ll take titanium 1969 spec 426 Hemi, 427-L88, 350 LT-1, Ford 427 Side Oiler and a 289 Ford for starters.

[Vince Ferrer]

Put this on the moon and build your moon base with it.

Solar sinter

[ctdonath2]

Now see the many threads & hysterics about “3d printing a gun”.

[Jmouse007]

What an outstandingly cool idea. Pal, you need to contact NASA. America had better do this before the communist Chinese do!

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Ping to another possibly interested set of characters...

[Ancesthntr]

No more plastic guns that can blow up - before long, all one will need is powered steel or powdered titanium, and you’ll be able to print a real gun...so long to gun control (and don’t let the door hit you in the ass).

“The right to own weapons is the right to be free” - The Weapon Shops of Isher, A. E. Van Vogt

[Voice of Reason1]

Sounds positively scintillating!

*Rimshot* ping!

[GraceG]

Can be bought here: http://www.amazon.com/Weapon-Shops-Isher-van-vogt/dp/0671431293

[from occupied ga]

Scintering Laser tech is what is needed after you start mining materials on the moon for creating a self sufficent moon base.

LOL there will never be a "self sufficient" moon base in the foreseeable future. There isn't any benefit to one that is anywhere near the cost. Or to put it another way there isn't anything there that you couldn't get here for about a million times less money.

Two questions: How much do you think a moon base would cost, and who do you think should pay for it?

[from occupied ga]

Now see the many threads & hysterics about “3d printing a gun”.

The most hysterical article was in the NY Times. You have to remember their primary audience is New Yorkers, and the majority of New Yorkers pi$$ themselves when they see a gun. I suspect that for the next few years firearms made in the conventional manner will be far more cost effective than anything from this technology.

Where it really has possibilities is in producing things that you can't get at the local gun shop. There is a widespread and growing trend for police departments to acquire armored vehicles for intimidating the citizenry. The ability to "print out" the mechanical components of RPGs or something like a PAK36 in 37mm would go a long way to restoring the true meaning of the second amendment.

[Jack of all Trades]

Thanks!

[GraceG]

Two questions: How much do you think a moon base would cost, and who do you think should pay for it?

If taxes or religious persecution become too great on earth the Moon WILL BE COLONIZED!

[from occupied ga]

I asked:

Two questions: How much do you think a moon base would cost, and who do you think should pay for it?

and you responded:

If taxes or religious persecution become too great on earth the Moon WILL BE COLONIZED!

You responded, but you didn't answer my questions. I'm just asking for your opinion. How much do you THINK it will cost and who do you THINK should pay for it?