Here at 3D Rapid Print, one of the fastest growing 3D Printing companies in the Thames Valley, we like to keep abreast of the latest innovations in 3D printing.
On June 8th 2022, aerospace company Lufthansa Technik (Lufthansa) of Hamburg announced that it had developed what it described as the “First load-bearing, metallic spare part from the 3D printer approved for aerospace use.” This had been done in collaboration with fellow aerospace company Premium AEROTEC of Augsburg. (Hamburg and Augsburg are both in Germany.) Referred to by Lufthansa as an “A-Link,” the part was made for the IAE-V2500 engine’s anti-icing system and has received its official aviation certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
A total of 9 A-Links fix a ring-shaped hot air duct in the engine’s inlet cowl to protect it from ice build-up during flight operations. Usually made via forging, Lufthansa argued that A-Links need replacing every few years due to vibrations that occur during operation, causing them to wear at their mounting holes. Premium AEROTEC did a large number of what Lufthansa described as “print jobs” with test specimens, to establish how to have the 3D printed A-Links meet the relevant material property requirements. Noteworthily enough, it turned out that the 3D printed A-Links had a greater tensile strength than the ones made via forging.
For Premium AEROTEC, collaborating with Lufthansa marked the first time that Premium AEROTEC had supplied a customer with 3D printed parts who was outside multinational aerospace corporation Airbus of Leiden, The Netherlands. For further work, Lufthansa and Premium AEROTEC intend to avail themselves of developments in 3D printing technology to optimise the part’s geometry. They also hope to be able to manufacture it more efficiently and with less material, while having it retain the same strength and function.
3D printing is an amazing tool. It can grow your small business or start a mini revolution in an industry. Explore what it can do for you when you contact us today.
Disclaimer: Featured image of “Luitenant Johnson demonstreert de 8 cylinder Pratt en Whitney Twin Wasp motor va, Bestanddeelnr 037-0616” has been dedicated to the public domain by its author (known only as Vrind, Luuk / Anefo) under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
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