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3D Printing for Aerospace

Every critical industry has its own set of stringent requirements for additive manufacturing, and aerospace is no different. Not only are the final parts strictly constrained dimensionally, but each step of the L-PBF additive manufacturing process comes with particular specifications as well. These process specifications must be completed in order to "qualify" the printing process. You can learn more about print process qualification through this research done in partnership between our additive manufacturing department and graduate students at Colorado's School of Mines.

READ PRINT PROCESS QUALIFICATION RESEARCH

The Steps to Aerospace Precision

Many of us know that the aerospace industry is synonymous with the highest levels of engineering and precision. In order to meet those levels of precision with L-PBF additive manufacturing, each component must go through a series of post processes.

1. Powder removal.
The bulk of unsintered powder is cleaned from the part after printing, then revisited after heat-treatment. Failure to remove every grain of excess can result in complete component failure, especially in parts intended to be fluid carriers. Foreign object debris is a serious focus.

2. Heat treatment.
This step is incredibly critical for all printed metal components. Because L-PBF components are formed with intense heat, they can develop serious internal stresses. This process levels out the stress while the part is still constrained to hte build plate.

3. Media Blasting + Surface Treatment.
IAlthough L-PBF can provide beautifully smooth surfaces, challenging geometry can result in rough corners and overhangs. This step to precision evens out the surface with direct media blasting and occasionally careful, trained, hand work.

4. Post-Machining.
This is the most crucial step to precision, and Rennscot MFG's specialty. The printed components must be individually probed into the CNC milling machines, and each piece of critial mating geometry carefully machined within microns.

LEARN MORE ABOUT L-PBF POST MACHINING

3D Printing for Aerospace

The Steps to Aerospace Precision

1.

Powder removal. The bulk of unsintered powder is cleaned from the part after printing, then revisited after heat-treatment. Failure to remove every grain of excess can result in complete component failure, especially in parts intended to be fluid carriers. Foreign object debris is a serious focus.

2.

Heat treatment. This step is incredibly critical for all printed metal components. Because L-PBF components are formed with intense heat, they can develop serious internal stresses. This process levels out the stress while the part is still constrained to hte build plate.

3.

Media Blasting + Surface Treatment. IAlthough L-PBF can provide beautifully smooth surfaces, challenging geometry can result in rough corners and overhangs. This step to precision evens out the surface with direct media blasting and occasionally careful, trained, hand work.

4.

Post-Machining. This is the most crucial step to precision, and Rennscot MFG's specialty. The printed components must be individually probed into the CNC milling machines, and each piece of critial mating geometry carefully machined within microns.

Powder removal.
The bulk of unsintered powder is cleaned from the part after printing, then revisited after heat-treatment. Failure to remove every grain of excess can result in complete component failure, especially in parts intended to be fluid carriers. Foreign object debris is a serious focus.

Heat treatment.
This step is incredibly critical for all printed metal components. Because L-PBF components are formed with intense heat, they can develop serious internal stresses. This process levels out the stress while the part is still constrained to hte build plate.

Media Blasting + Surface Treatment.
IAlthough L-PBF can provide beautifully smooth surfaces, challenging geometry can result in rough corners and overhangs. This step to precision evens out the surface with direct media blasting and occasionally careful, trained, hand work.

Post-Machining.
This is the most crucial step to precision, and Rennscot MFG's specialty. The printed components must be individually probed into the CNC milling machines, and each piece of critial mating geometry carefully machined within microns.