China3D printingNet, May 21, American Airlines General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has completed its first test flight with metal on its SkyGuardian remotely controlled aircraft (RPA) system3D printingpart.
Since the first half of 2019,3D printingAddWorks, the consulting service of OEM GE Additive, has always supported GA-ASI’s strategy of expanding metal additive manufacturing on its RPA platform.
Since then, the GA-ASI additive manufacturing team has partnered with AddWorks and reached a milestone in February 2020, when the company performed the company’s metal on SkyGuardian RPA.3D printingThe first test flight of the part (NACA air inlet made of Ti6Al4V titanium).
“Through the GE Additive AddWorks team, we are not only able to achieve the short-term goal of qualifying NACA inlets, but we have also jointly carried out many other application development and qualification work, which will continue until 2020 and beyond.” GA-ASI Said Elie Yehezkel, senior vice president of advanced manufacturing technology.
GA-ASI’s SkyGuardian RPA is launched. Filmed by GA-ASI.
Accelerate the adoption of metal additive manufacturing
Founded in 1993, GA-ASI is a leading manufacturer of remotely operated aircraft (RPA) systems, radar, electro-optical and related mission systems. It is a subsidiary of General Atomics, a US energy and defense company.
GA-ASI in polymer-based3D printingIt already has extensive experience and has only recently made great strides in developing its metal additive manufacturing roadmap. After establishing the ecosystem needed to support metal additive manufacturing applications, the GA-ASI AM team identified a series of application parts and series with potentially beneficial business cases.
The company worked with GE Additive’s AddWorks team in April 2019 to support the company’s acceleration of metal laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing, while also enhancing the qualifications of its products and processes. AddWorks provides adoption3D printingA step-by-step consulting service that first defines the business case, builds a team, and determines financing opportunities.
It helped Japan’s Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Korea Aerospace Industries Association (KAIA) and the US’s Triumph Group to accelerate the adoption of metal additive manufacturing. AddWorks is also committed to producing unique fashion pieces for the 2019 Met Gala worn by British supermodel Jourdan Dunn and Canadian actor Nina Dobrev through additive manufacturing. .
AddWorks cooperates with GA-ASI to provide a wide range of engineering consulting services, such as additive design (DfAM) training, industrialized process development, and material verification of titanium and other metals.The purpose of the partnership with GA-ASI is to make its first metal3D printingThe part flew in a short period of time, and after eight months, it achieved its goal.
GE Additive AddWorks Operations Project Manager Lauren Thompson explained: “By adding GE’s previous experience and perspectives to GA-ASI’s internal leadership, the joint team was able to achieve the required project momentum to achieve its own milestones.”
Elie Yehezkel, senior vice president of advanced manufacturing technology at GA-ASI, participated in an administrative review in December 2019. The photo is from GA-ASI.
Save time and cost through metal additive manufacturing
After evaluating the criticality and planned impact of the parts, GA-ASI identified NACA entrance as the first metal planned by SkyGuardian in its pipeline of suitable parts for metal additive manufacturing.3D printingA strong business case for parts. The NACA air intake developed by the National Aviation Advisory Committee is an immersion air intake that has been used in many types of air and ground vehicles. Through its consulting services, the AddWorks team supported the process and production readiness of the NACA inlet with improved design and reduced risk.
Thompson added: “Combining our deep domain expertise in the field of metal additives and best practices in our own additive journey with GA-ASI’s equally deep domain expertise in RPA applications allows us to set Act quickly and carry out work within the timetable.”After successfully completing the test flight, the NACA air intake will now enter the final qualification phase of the SkyGuardian program. Compared with the traditional manufacturing process, the use of additive manufacturing components can significantly reduce the weight and cost. The traditional manufacturing process requires three-part welded metal plate titanium.
Summary of NACA import cases. Filmed by GA-ASI.
When printing in 3D on the Concept Laser M2 machine, the cost of parts for the injection port was reduced by more than 90%, the weight was reduced by more than 30%, and the mold was reduced by about 85%. The GA-ASI team is now applying best practices and knowledge to its wider range of NACA entry parts and several other components and subsystems.
GA-ASI also ordered multiple GE Additive Concept Laser M2 Series 5 machines, which will be combined with existing polymer machines in 20203D printingThe machine was installed at the new Additive Design and Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Poway, California. In addition, the GE Additive AddWorks team has become a trusted consultant of GA-ASI and will continue to provide consultation and expert advice in the process of further expanding the metal additives within its business scope. “It is important that we maintain the leading position of our products and customers in manufacturing technology. This acceleration has promoted the maturity of our metal additive manufacturing strategy, and also informed us how we plan to seek greater application space in the pipeline.” Yehezkel added.
China3D printingNet compile article!
(Editor in charge: admin)
0 Comments for “GE assists GA-ASI in completing the first flight of a remote-controlled aircraft containing metal 3D printed parts”