FOCUS ON ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
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THE 3D REVOLUTION
The latest 3D metal printing technology has the potential to change the face of large component prototype design in the aerospace industry .
“ Prototype flexibility is possible with Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing ( WAAM ). 3D metal printing can lead to lower prototype costs and faster lead times .”
By
Dr . Filomeno Martina , CEO and Co-Founder , WAAM3D .
According to recent analysis by Mordor Intelligence , the market for 3D printing in aerospace and defence is expected to reach US $ 7,369 million by 2028 , growing at a CAGR of 19.4 % ( 2023 – 2028 ).
This is no surprise as airlines look to replace older fleets with newer generation aircraft . The lower costs and faster lead times of 3D-printed components have become increasingly appealing to OEMs and operators .
The latest 3D metal printing technology therefore has the potential to change the face of large component prototype design in the aerospace industry , as illustrated in this article .
Reducing the cost of metal prototyping
The testing and development of a part through prototype design can be a long , drawn-out , costly process . However , this stage is vital as the more effective the prototype , the better the finished product .
As well as being used for advanced stage and pre-production phases , metal prototypes can also be used early on particularly when mechanical and functional performance needs to be assessed . Metal prototypes can be made from aluminium , steel or other materials and created using a range of processes such as CNC machining , sheet-metal forming , casting or 3D metal printing .
Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing ( WAAM ®) is a 3D metal printing technique that brings a wide range of benefits to large-scale aerospace prototype and component production . This is because it avoids the expensive waste
18 | ismr . net | ISMR July / August 2023