Boeing relies on 3D-printed components made of titanium
Additive manufacturing specialist Norsk Titanium will produce 3D-printed titanium structural components for Boeing. The 787 (Dreamliner) will be the first commercial aircraft to take off with titanium parts from the 3D printer approved by the US aviation regulator FAA.
3D printing has become a major trend in the past few years. increasingly suitable for everyday use. The current deal is a milestone for additive manufacturing and aviation. After all, the titanium components for the Dreamliner are critical structural components for a passenger aircraft.
The production is carried out using Norsk's proprietary RPD (Rapid Plasma Deposition) process. Titanium is melted in argon gas and precisely deposited in layers.
So the fact that Boeing is actually relying on 3D-printed parts is a sign of great confidence that additive manufacturing technologies have already come a long way. Boeing and Norsk worked closely together on the design of the components that have now been officially ordered. The goal was to ensure that the 3D-printed parts would actually meet the necessary requirements.
Savings in the millions
After extensive testing, Boeing and Norsk were ready to submit components for FAA certification in February of this year. Now commercial production is beginning. For Boeing, according to Norsk, this means millions in savings on important structural components. Thus, a lot of money is at stake in this move. "We're always looking for the latest technologies to drive cost reduction," says John Byrne, vice president, Airplane Materials and Structures, Supplier Management, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. They found what they were looking for at Norks RPD. The supplier believes it will provide Boeing with a massive cost advantage as more and more components are printed through 2018. "That means at least two to three million dollars in savings per Dreamliner," said Chip Yates, vice president of marketing at Norsk Titanium. That would be about one percent of the catalog price of $225 million to $306 million for the 787-8 and 787-10 models, respectively. (Source: pressetext)
