Last year we wrote a blog about 3D printing in the aerospace industry, and over the past 12 months it seems we have continued to see buzz within the industry.
Recently companies like GNK Aerospace and others have announced plans to research techniques for additive manufacturing.
At Ardel we were recently interviewed by a graduate student who was researching the impact of 3D printing on the aerospace industry for his thesis. He mentions several benefits to additive manufacturing such as lighter materials which may reduce fuel costs, however he does note that there are some parts manufactured by CNC machines which can’t be made from a 3D printer and currently some additive manufactured parts may not be able to meet the aviation industry’s standards and therefore a CNC machined part or hybrid part would be required. His conclusion is that additive manufacturing is in its early stages and will likely be used in low-end aircraft parts until the technology can improve to manufacture better structural parts.
For our part we will continue to monitor the latest news to ensure we are keeping up with new technology and techniques to give our customers the best the best service possible. To learn about CNC machining work for the aerospace industry, visit our website. We are also active on Twitter and LinkedIn where we post about the latest developments in the industry.
