研究克兰菲尔德大学conducted in collaboration with BAE Systems has resulted in the production of a large scale, 3D printed metal part. The part, measuring 1.2 metres, is thought to be one of the biggest 3D printed parts produced in the UK in a single operation using metal additive technologies.
According to the researchers at Cranfield undertaking the build, this part — a spar section— was designed by BAE Systems engineers, and constructed from titanium utilizing Cranfield’s proprietary Wire+Arc Additive Manufacture (WAAM) process. Spar sections are critical structural parts within an aircraft wing, and using the WAAM process, this metal prototype took just 37 hours to construct, direct from a digital model. By comparison, using traditional manufacturing methods, the same part would typically take weeks.
在研究中，使用3D打印的时间节省元素是直接为飞机制造商制造大型结构零件的巨大驱动力。这，加上大量直接和间接的成本节省。
在克兰菲尔德大学（Cranfield University）领导该项目的斯图尔特·威廉姆斯（Stewart Williams）教授评论说：“这是一项令人兴奋的技术，对航空航天行业具有巨大的潜力。克兰菲尔德（Cranfield）以与行业合作伙伴的紧密工作关系而闻名，这就是一个很好的例子。我们将继续与BAE系统合作，以改善流程并开发可在商业上应用的其他零件和流程。”
Obviously, there will need to be a ton of testing and qualification before this part makes it anywhere near a flying plane, but with the number of global research organizations, working with industrial partners, the developments within aerospace for widening the scope for directly manufacturing parts, including critical components, are certainly gathering pace.
The WAAM process has been around for a while, its USP being the Wire+Arc element, but it is not a commercial process. However, recent developments to utilise the process for industrial applications have seen a multi-project, multi-client programme put in place by Cranfield. The programme is called WAAMMat, and it is aimed at maturing the technology so that it can be exploited across industry sectors.
