The search for ever-lower emission technology for future generations of aircraft engines is actively progressing on both sides of the Atlantic. Tucked away on a modest-size stand at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow was a highly varied collection of unconventional engine technology displays – a clear indication of radical innovation already being investigated as a part of Ultimate, the European Horizon 2020 research and innovation project.
In part two of a two-part series, Richard Gardner discusses various aerospace propulsion innovations and continued work by aerospace engineers and scientists to advance aircraft engine technologies to increase efficiency and lower emissions.
MRO providers are discovering ways to innovate their procedures while remaining viable and profitable through the current downturn in government spending.
The demand for innovative manufacturing technology that produces lighter parts with stronger material grows each day in the competitive aerospace industry. 3-D printing, also known as “additive manufacturing,” is at the center of this innovation.
Aerospace manufacturers and operators—large and small—require solutions that shorten product development; maintenance, repair, and overhaul cycles; and lower fuel costs through lightweighting.
The new version of the MetraSCAN 3D laser scanner from Creaform is 12 times faster than the previous version and can tackle black, multicolored, and shiny surfaces with metrology accuracy for applications directly on the shop floor.
Methods 3D introduces the 3D Systems' ProX SLS 500 Selective Laser Sintering production 3D printer featuring fast speeds, high print resolution and a range of engineered composite materials.
In the additive manufacturing world, the costs of components are dropping, the technology is becoming more reliable and parts are fabricated faster. This is allowing industries such as automotive to adopt additive technologies, says Oak Ridge Lab's Ryan Dehoff.
Additive manufacturing is making significant headway in aerospace production programs, as evidenced by recent announcements that Airbus and rocket manufacturer United Launch Alliance both are—or soon will be—flying aircraft that incorporate 3D-printed parts enabled by Stratasys.