3D printing- Hype and reality
1 min read
Machinery's September centenary issue ended its future-gazing finale on the topic of additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing as it is now generally termed by the press at large. And the press at large are getting quite exercised about it – The Economist regularly now talks about it. Indeed, it was that publication we drew on when we quoted Michael Idelchik, vice president of Advanced Technologies for GE Global Research, saying "One day we will print an engine". Hype or reality?
Much 3D printing coverage emanates from the US. It's not surprising. According to Terry Wohlers, whose company Wohlers Associates Inc publishes regular reports on the topic, an estimated 36.9% of all industrial AM systems sold worldwide in 2010 went to the US; Germany follows, with 14.7%, while the UK ranks seventh, with 2.6%. As for cumulative installations over 1988–2010, the US took 41.1% of all industrial systems installed worldwide. No wonder, from a UK perspective, it may look like oversell.
For sure, medical, dental, mould tool and jewellery applications of the technology are an increasing trend, albeit not, again, centred in the UK. But successful global manufacturer Renishaw plc has bought into the technology; the Manufacturing Technology Centre is just patenting a process and technology that employs additive manufacturing (p9), with Renishaw a player in this, too; while the government's Technology Strategy Board has additive manufacture supporting its high value manufacturing ambitions for the UK.
To return to the US and GE, that company has just purchased specialist additive manufacturer Morris Technologies. According to Mr Wohlers: "Morris Technologies has become the 'go to' company in the US for services associated with the production of metal parts by additive manufacturing." And the company belongs to the US National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII), a consortium of 40 public and private businesses, nine universities, five community colleges and 11 non-profit organisations, led by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining.
GE Aviation is to use AM to produce two metal parts; a fuel injector and a leading- edge for fan blades, for its gas turbine jet engines by early next year. These parts will be in full-scale production by 2016, with runs into the thousands, Mr Wohlers says, also pointing out that Boeing has 200 AM part numbers on 10 production aircraft, with this expected to grow. Closer to home, Rolls-Royce and Airbus are involved with 3D printing, but application information is sparse.
Hype there may be in easy talk of 3D printing's general and widespread applicability, but serious industrial effort there is, with America and its defence sector seemingly most keen to push it along.
