Military: -
3D printing technology has the potential to play a crucial role in combat. Military applications often need custom designed and miniaturized units. 3D printing can support rapid production and development to fulfill the specialized functional requirements of the military. Army is already using 3D printing in combat zones. 3D printing can influence strategies and tactics of future aerial combat and Air Force is looking into the advanced manufacturing capabilities that 3D printing has to offer. In the past there were many problems like budget cuts, expensive and delayed development. They faltered because they were trying to build a large expensive manned aircraft that took years to develop and be made. The solution was to shift in …show more content…
It offers rapid prototyping and can create finished parts on the go with great precision. The complexity with which it prints these parts is almost impossible to replicate using traditional methods. 3D printer printed jet fuel nozzles in one piece and they are 33% lighter and stronger than the cast version. The design took 6 weeks instead of usual 6 months. 3D printed parts are lighter compared to the parts that were made of solid materials. The ability to do this with materials such as titanium can resolve the major obstacle called as “Buy-To-Fly” ratio. It is ratio between pounds of material needed to make one pound of flight quality material. This can be reduced by 50% and that can have a huge impact. Design process if often complex because they have parts like air ducts and jet engines that were limited by injection molding and subtractive constraints. 787 Dreamliner has nearly 30 parts that were 3D printed. 3D printing is lapped up by the manufacturing companies as it can provide them with savings in labor, transportation and material costs compared to traditional manufacturing process. The global aerospace industry estimated a 3.4$ billion in annual savings in transportation and material costs. According to analysis, even 20% adoption would result in savings of $1
3D printing technology has the potential to play a crucial role in combat. Military applications often need custom designed and miniaturized units. 3D printing can support rapid production and development to fulfill the specialized functional requirements of the military. Army is already using 3D printing in combat zones. 3D printing can influence strategies and tactics of future aerial combat and Air Force is looking into the advanced manufacturing capabilities that 3D printing has to offer. In the past there were many problems like budget cuts, expensive and delayed development. They faltered because they were trying to build a large expensive manned aircraft that took years to develop and be made. The solution was to shift in …show more content…
It offers rapid prototyping and can create finished parts on the go with great precision. The complexity with which it prints these parts is almost impossible to replicate using traditional methods. 3D printer printed jet fuel nozzles in one piece and they are 33% lighter and stronger than the cast version. The design took 6 weeks instead of usual 6 months. 3D printed parts are lighter compared to the parts that were made of solid materials. The ability to do this with materials such as titanium can resolve the major obstacle called as “Buy-To-Fly” ratio. It is ratio between pounds of material needed to make one pound of flight quality material. This can be reduced by 50% and that can have a huge impact. Design process if often complex because they have parts like air ducts and jet engines that were limited by injection molding and subtractive constraints. 787 Dreamliner has nearly 30 parts that were 3D printed. 3D printing is lapped up by the manufacturing companies as it can provide them with savings in labor, transportation and material costs compared to traditional manufacturing process. The global aerospace industry estimated a 3.4$ billion in annual savings in transportation and material costs. According to analysis, even 20% adoption would result in savings of $1