3D Printed Titanium Replaces Aluminum for Unmanned Aircraft Wing Splice | The Cool Parts Show

Aircraft makers applying 3D printing processes to manufacture plane components often begin with less critical parts first, then proceed to more vital parts as confidence builds. But with General Atomics’ introduction of directed energy deposition (DED) to part production, the company began with a part that could not be more critical to flight. DED via the Rapid Plasma Deposition process from Norsk Titanium will be used to 3D print the wing splice for an unmanned aerial system following requirements similar to those of the company’s existing SkyGuardian aircraft. That is, this process will make the part that affixes the wings to a remotely piloted plane. Producing the part this way makes it practical to apply titanium to a component previously machined from aluminum, allowing a more compact design. The Cool Parts Show visited Norsk Titanium in Plattsburgh, New York, where the General Atomics wing splice will be made. This episode of The Cool Parts Show brought to you by Carpenter Additive. FOR ALL ACCESS MEMBERS: In the episode, Steve Fournier of General Atomics mentions how AM potentially makes titanium more economical than aluminum. That sounds counterintuitive, because aluminum’s raw material cost is less. Fournier says total cost of manufacturing is what is important, and he lays out the argument in detail in an exclusive Extra just for subscribers. The Cool Parts Show All Access is a free subscription for fans of the show. Sign up and watch this month’s exclusive Extra here: RELATED: More applications of additive manufacturing at General Atomics More on Norsk Titanium and the Rapid Plasma Deposition process Other examples of AM enabling unattended vehicles, including the engine for an unmanned aircraft and the hull of an autonomous underwater vehicle --------------------------- Subscribe to THE BUILDUP, Additive Manufacturing Media’s newsletter on 3D printing for industrial production: 00:00 3D Printed Titanium Wing Splice 00:49 Intro to Norsk Titianium 01:52 UAVs and Additive Manufacturing 02:31 Intro to General Atomics and Sky Guardian 04:40 Critical 3D Printed Parts 06:49 The Benefits of Using Titanium 08:36 What is Rapid Plasma Deposition? 10:40 Benefits of 3D Printing Titanium Aerospace Parts 13:46 Improving the Manufacturing Process 16:55 Next Steps Toward Production 18:47 3D Printed Wing Splice Summary 19:50 Cost Effectiveness of 3D Printed Titanium 20:28 Tailoring Powder Management for Qualification Requirements #engineering #3dprinting #manufacturing #aerospace