3D printing - Aerospace Applications.
Just read on Avweb that a Chinese company has made the worlds first #D printed titanium part, quite a large piece apparently for a fighter they have under development. It states that using the traditional forging process it would have cost $1.3 million to make but with the 3D printing process it cost around $300,000.
is there a future for 3D printing in large scale industrial applications.
Will 3D printing supercede traditional forging
Can 3D printed parts be made as strong as traditional forging. They are talking of making wing spars with 3D printing.
Lastly, small GA aircraft are traditionally made using hand worked sheet metal with lots of labour involved to join pieces together with lots of fasteners(rivets) etc. Could 3D printing make GA type aircraft and others cheaper to manufacture?