Operation of the EBM machine to produce a solid metal part from powder.
GKN Aerospace is to lead a three-year, £3.1 million collaborative research programme to develop titanium powder for the additive manufacturing of aerospace components.
Backed by the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and the country’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, the TiPOW (Titanium Powder for net-shape component manufacture) program will also commence work developing the technology that is able to consistently produce the powder, in quantity and at a lower price than current materials.
Consortium partners include UK companies Phoenix Scientific Industries Ltd and Metalysis and the University of Leeds. As programme leader, GKN’s aerospace business will also draw on the expertise of the GKN Powder Metallurgy division a world-leading supplier of metal powders and precision engineered components.
These partners will investigate titanium alloys and powders with the characteristics that are specifically suited to AM for the aerospace industry. They will then define the production methods that will produce AM-designed materials to ensure cost is minimised whilst production quality, quantity and consistency all meet the rigorous standards required by aerospace. The TiPOW programme will also explore effective re-use and recycling of titanium material, and a study of potential applications for the recycled material.
“To date research into AM has focused largely on evolving the processes we will require to enter full scale production but if these processes are to make a significant breakthrough, the quality, repeatability and cost of the material we use will be critical," Russ Dunn, Senior Vice President Engineering & Technology explained. "Working with our industrial and academic partners in the TiPOW programme and leveraging expertise from across GKN, we will begin the process of addressing this issue.”
The TiPOW programme forms one element in a major AM research and development initiative across GKN, and will run alongside another GKN Aerospace-led, ATI supported, programme called ‘Horizon (AM)’ which aims to take promising AM techniques through to viable production processes.
Gary Elliott, CEO of the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) added: “The UK is already a world leader in aerospace technology and the Aerospace Technology Institute is delighted to be investing in this highly creative project. TIPOW will give us a better understanding and insight into improving airplane performance and will undoubtedly deliver more technological advances to the industry. This programme highlights the capabilities of the UK aerospace, promotes healthy competition and will lay the groundwork for even more innovation.”
