Airbus A350
Arconic and Airbus have announced their mission to advance 3D printing for aerospace, signing a multi-year cooperative research agreement.
The collaboration was revealed on the second day of formnext powered by TCT and will see the partners develop customised processes and parameters to produce and qualify large, structural 3D printed components up to approximately 1 metre in length. These components include pylon spars and rib structures.
Arconic and Airbus will bring together their respective qualities in metal additive manufacturing and metallurgy, and design and qualification capabilities. In particular, Arconic will use its electron beam high deposition rate technology to 3D print large aircraft parts, manufacturing them at a speed said to be up to one hundred time faster than technologies used for smaller, more intricate parts. The company will also implement its Ampliforge process, which combines traditional and additive manufacturing. It treats a near complete part using processes such as forging to enhance their properties. Ampliforge can increase the toughness, fatigue and strength versus parts made solely by AM, and can also reduce material input and production lead times.
Drawing on these capabilities at its facilities in Cleveland, Ohio and at the Arconic Technology Center outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Arconic is confident, with the help of Airbus, it can maximise the potential additive manufacturing has in industries like aerospace.
“This agreement combines the expertise of two of the world’s top aerospace additive manufacturing companies to push the boundaries of 3D printing for aircraft production,” said Eric Roegner, Executive Vice President and Group President, Arconic Engineered Products and Solutions and Arconic Defense. “Additive manufacturing promises a world where lighter, more complex aerospace parts are produced cheaper and faster. We’re joining forces to make that potential a reality in a bigger way than ever before.”
Arconic can be found exhibiting at formnext powered by TCT in Hall 3.0, F41.
