Wikimedia Commons/ United Airlines/ Altair78
Boeing 777 dreamliner
A Boeing 777 Dreamliner aircraft.
Boeing and Oerlikon are to collaborate to develop standard materials and processes for the additive manufacturing (AM) of structural titanium aerospace components.
The aerospace leader has signed a five-year partnership agreement with the technology and engineering outfit, and together they will work to deliver qualified additive parts with a range of machines and materials. Initially, the research will focus on industrialising titanium powder bed fusion AM, and ensuring parts manufactured with this process will meet the stringent flight requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defence.
Boeing is a company with bucket-loads of experience in the quality assurance of additive parts, having around 50,000 3D printed components currently being used in commercial, space and defence programs. Last year, the firm became the first aerospace manufacturer to design and fly an FAA-qualified 3D printed structural titanium part on a commercial airliner, when it installed it in the 787 Dreamliner. The company also established the Boeing Additive Manufacturing division in 2017, an ample representation of its commitment to incorporating AM processes into the manufacture of aerospace components at scale. In particular, it wants itself and others to benefit from greater affordability, quality, customisation, and time-to-market.
In Oerlikon, Boeing has partnered with a reputable AM service provider, with offerings along the entire value chain, from metal powder production to design, manufacturing, and post-processing. Bringing together their respective expertise, Boeing and Oerlikon expect to make a big impact on the adoption of AM in the aerospace market.
“This agreement is an important step towards fully unlocking the value of powder bed titanium additive manufacturing for the aerospace industry,” commented Leo Christodoulou, Boeing Chief Technologist. “Boeing and Oerlikon will work together to standardise additive manufacturing operations from powder management to finished product and thus enable the development of a wide range of safe, reliable and cost-effective structural titanium aerospace components.”
“This program will drive the faster adoption of additive manufacturing in the rapidly growing aerospace, space, and defence markets,” added Dr Roland Fischer, CEO, Oerlikon Group. “Working together with Boeing will define the path in producing airworthy additive manufacturing components for serial manufacturing. We see collaboration as a key enabler to unlocking the value that additive manufacturing can bring to aircraft platforms and look forward to partnering with Boeing.”
