Rolls-Royce Nuclear and Belgian research lab sign up to 3D printing initiative

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Rolls-Royce Nuclear and the Belgian electricity research organisation Engie Lab-Laborelec have formally joined a joint industry project to advance laser metallic additive manufacturing (AM) through the independent certification of AM-produced components.

The project, a collaboration between Lloyd’s Register and TWI, aims to bring independent certification to printed parts.

TWI will assist in optimizing the companies’ designs for additive manufacturing and in the printing of the component, while LR will bring its knowledge of product certification to every stage of the manufacturing process. The end result for both companies will be a component that is produced through additive manufacturing by TWI and is certified by LR for quality, safety and consistency.

Rolls-Royce’s Research and Technology group has been exploring AM technologies for manufacturing and repair of components for nearly a decade. Engie Lab-Laborelec, which focuses on research and competence for electrical power technology, is working to establish an additive manufacturing research area.

“Engie Lab-Laborelec and Rolls-Royce are at different stages of adopting additive manufacturing, and this is really an ideal situation,” says Dr. Claire Ruggiero, Innovation Director at Lloyd’s Register. “Throughout the project’s duration, Lloyd’s Register and TWI will be sharing experimentation results and best practice guidance that will enable the project members to bring functional AM-produced parts to market quickly whilst meeting stringent product integrity requirements.”

Earlier this year, LR and TWI released “Guidance Notes for Additive Manufacturing of Metallic Parts”, a framework to help manufacturers achieve certification of their part or component from Lloyd’s Register. The Engie Lab-Laborelec and Rolls-Royce projects will both follow this framework, and findings from the Joint Industry Project are expected to help shape future revisions.

Dr. Ruggiero says: “Our ability to certify and provide manufacturers with a path to market is due to our collaborative efforts with TWI, as well as our active involvement with the ISO/TC261 committee, which is beginning to establish standards within the field of AM.”

Both TWI and Lloyd’s Register are also actively involved in various national strategic panels including the UK National Strategy for AM/3D Printing and the Singapore Industrial Additive Manufacturing Research Initiatives.