Video: Metal Additive Manufacturing, Step by Step
A video from Pratt & Whitney illustrates the steps needed to additively manufacture an aerospace component.
Aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney has been using additive manufacturing for prototyping since the 1980s, but just recently began producing service parts using a metal powder-bed process. The components the company is building will be part of the PurePower geared turbofan PW1500G engine, to be used in Bombardier aircraft.
The video above illustrates the production process for one such component. Beyond the significance of the engine, the video is worthwhile for its succinct depiction of the steps involved in additively manufacturing a metal component, both before and after the actual build. Fast-forward to the 1:20 mark to catch this step-by-step footage.
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