3D Printing in Civil Aircraft Manufacturing – A Production Revolution is Taking Off
Industry needs guiding beacons. People and projects act as models for innovations which symbolize change and modifications. Frank Herzog, founder and President & CEO of the machinery and plant manufacturer Concept Laser, was recognized as part of the prize ceremony for the “German Future Prize 2015” together with his two project partners as being among the “group of the best.” The official ceremony for all three nominated teams was held on December 2 in Berlin in the presence of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck. A permanent exhibition at the German Museum in Munich will showcase the projects of the nominated teams.
The project team, consisting of Peter Sander, Head of Emerging Technologies & Concepts at Airbus, Hamburg, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Emmelmann, CEO of Laser Zentrum Nord GmbH, Hamburg, and Frank Herzog, founder and President & CEO of Concept Laser GmbH, were included among the “group of the best” with their project entitled “3D Printing in Civil Aircraft Manufacturing – a Production Revolution is Taking Off.” Frank Herzog: “Belonging to the ‘group of the best’ is a great honor for our team and for me personally. Even though we would have dearly loved to have won the ‘German Future Prize 2015,’ being affiliated with the “group of the best” is an exceptional honor, in particular also recognizing the hard work of my dedicated employees. In addition, the high-profile nomination has resulted in a further boost to the profile of our company Concept Laser.” 3D lightweight construction in the aviation industry honored as being “among the best”
The project entitled “3-D printing in commercial aircraft engineering – a manufacturing revolution is taking off” persuaded the jury for the German Future Prize 2015 in respect of its level of innovation and commercial application. The project is in essence about the first, additively manufactured titanium component, known as a “bracket,” on board the Airbus A350 XWB. This is a “bionic” retaining and connecting element which is regarded as making a vital contribution to the lightweight construction of aircraft. The team made 3D printing “ready to fly.”
Background information on Frank Herzog and the LaserCUSING process
Success by means of pioneering spirit Frank Herzog is regarded as a pioneer in the field of powder bed-based laser melting. The existing plastic sintering technology led to development of the LaserCUSING method in 1998. During his studies Frank Herzog thought that what worked with plastics should also work with metals. Part stress and the failure of metal powder to fuse completely were initially the greatest challenges in the process development. However, these problems were overcome by the hard work put into the development of stochastic exposure and the application of a solid-state laser.
This pioneering work resulted in the founding of the company Concept Laser in the year 2000, which presented its M3 linear prototype machine to the public at the Euromold in Frankfurt in 2001 and, in this way, celebrated its world premiere in the field of industrial 3D metal printing. Concept Laser, which is situated in Lichtenfels in Upper Franconia, were able to supply the first systems worldwide only a year later.
Once an exotic outsider, this additive manufacturing strategy has taken over a wide variety of industrial fields and applications over the years. Over 400 systems installed worldwide speak for themselves. And 15 years of Concept Laser also means 15 years of successful process development with numerous innovations and patents. For example, the company now has its own research and development department with over 50 employees. Furthermore, Concept Laser GmbH is involved in numerous research and development partnerships with universities, technological and scientific institutes and industrial companies. And the company is also the owner of more than 50 granted patents. Concept Laser GmbH has currently approximately 100 pending patent applications and a majority of them will be granted in the near future. The number of inventions applied for patents by the company has been steadily growing.
Concept Laser’s 15th anniversary in 2015 is a brilliant performance – and it has the figures to prove it. The growth of + 75 % in 2014 is being consolidated by Concept Laser at a high standard. For example, a total of 110 laser melting systems were delivered in the year 2014. This figure is to rise to 150 systems in 2015. This means growth in sales of + 35% is expected compared to the previous already very successful year.
The LaserCUSING process
The term LaserCUSING, composed of the C from CONCEPT Laser and the English word FUSING (to fully melt), describes the technology. The fusing process uses 3D CAD data to generate components layer by layer. This process allows the production of complex component geometries without tools in order to implement geometries as components that are difficult or even impossible to achieve with conventional manufacturing methods. The LaserCUSING process is used to create mechanically and thermally stable metallic components with high precision. Depending on the application, it can be used with stainless and tool steels, aluminum and titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, cobalt-chromium alloys or precious metals such as gold or silver alloys.
With LaserCUSING, finely pulverized metal is fused using a high-energy fiber laser. The material is solidified after cooling. The component contour is created by directing the laser beam by means of a mirror deflection unit (scanner). The component is constructed layer by layer (with each layer measuring 15-150 ?m) by lowering the bottom surface of the build space and then applying and fusing more powder. Concept Laser systems stand out due to their stochastic control of the slice segments (also referred to as “islands”), which are processed successively. The patented process significantly reduces tension during the manufacture of very large components.
General aspects of an additive manufacturing strategy
Numerous options for lightweight construction and an increase in the performance of components are opened up by an additive manufacturing strategy. Key words include: functional integration, lightweight construction potential, bionics and topology, conservation of resources, waste reduction, geometrical freedom, single shot production, reduction of assembly work, timely production, also “on-demand” and improvement of the cost structure, e.g. by unmanned manufacturing 24 hours a day. The laser melting process has been made first choice in numerous sectors in relation to conventional machining strategies by the current challenges posed by manufacturing. According to manufacturing experts, automation, quality, a wide range of materials, integration in the production environment and potential build speeds are essential characteristics of additive manufacturing in the digital era. Additive manufacturing in a digital process chain is consistently based, not least, on the “Industry 4.0” strategy.
Background information on the importance of laser melting for the aircraft industry
Significance of laser melting to aircraft construction
Laser melting with metals is gaining in significance in aircraft construction as part of an additive manufacturing strategy. Here too, the typical reasons for the selected process are quicker throughput times, more cost-effective components and previously unknown freedom of design. Two new key words, “lightweight” and “bionics” point to an emerging trend: The design approaches of developers in aircraft construction are changed by an additive process. In terms of aircraft design, future components will be able to absorb specific lines of force and yet still be able to fulfill the demands of a lightweight construction approach. In general, laser melting technology is capable of manufacturing safety-related components that are even better, lighter and more durable than conventional components manufactured today. Moreover, the material properties are slightly different. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Emmelmann, CEO, Laser Zentrum Nord GmbH, Hamburg: “Materials produced using laser additive manufacturing have greater rigidity while, at the same time, less ductility; however this can be enhanced with the right heat treatment.” Furthermore, the process is distinguished by sustainability and resource conservation with simultaneous improvements to the cost structure.
Geometrical freedom and lightweight construction potentials as driving factors
The arguments for the laser melting of metals in aircraft construction are geometric freedom and weight reduction. The “lightweight construction” approach is intended to help airlines operate their aircraft more economically. The achievable weight reduction results in a tendency towards lower fuel consumption or the potential to increase load capacities of aircraft. A new aircraft design requires thousands of flight test installation (FTI) brackets, produced in very small quantities. Additive “layer manufacturing” allows designers to come up with new structures. The additively manufactured components are in fact more than 30 % lighter than conventional cast or milled parts. In addition, the CAD data are the direct basis for an additive build job. The omission of tools reduces the costs and shortens the time until the component is available for use by up to 75 %. Since tools are not required in the process, it is now possible at an early stage to produce functional samples of components that are similar to series produced components. This is done without upfront costs for tools. This means that sources of error can be identified in the early stages of the design process in order to optimize the processes within the project. Peter Sander, Head of Emerging Technologies & Concepts, Airbus, Hamburg: “Previously we budgeted around six months to develop a component – now, it’s down to one month.”
Bionics in the component or product design
Laser melting with metals allows extremely fine, even bone-like, i.e. porous structures to be produced. “Future aircraft components will therefore have a “bionic” look“ is what Peter Sander expects. It is not without reason that over millions of years nature has produced optimized functional and lightweight construction principles which minimize the amount of resources required in a clever way. Airbus is currently analyzing solutions found in nature in a structured manner with regard to their applicability. By relying on “intelligent exposure strategies” of the laser, it can apply layers to a component in a strategic manner in order to produce custom properties in terms of structure, rigidity and surface quality. Peter Sander: “Initial prototypes indicate great potential of a bionically motivated approach. The process is expected to launch something of a paradigm shift in design and production.”
Quality as a significant parameter
For aircraft manufacturers, monitoring during the component’s build process is one of the most important aspects of the industrial application. Peter Sander: “In practice, “inline process monitoring” with the QMmeltpool QM module from Concept Laser means the system uses a camera and photo diode to monitor the process within a very small area of 1×1 mm². The process is then documented.” In 2016 this module will be extended by QMmeltpool 3D. The former, time-related 2D monitoring of the build process becomes a position-related 3D landscape. Instead of exclusively time-related data, the system now additionally delivers position-related signals for definitive allocation, comparable to a computer tomography (CT). These signals make it possible to generate 3D datasets of the part and its structure. A highly accurate 3D landscape of the component is thus created. This allows QMmeltpool 3D to provide local indication of defects in the component. As a result, subsequent inspections and tests can be reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the data are available directly after the build process, which also saves time. Other QM modules for active quality assurance are QMcoating, QMatmosphere, QMpowder and QMlaser. They measure or monitor, for example, the laser output and also the optimum layer structure of the metal powder and document the entire manufacturing process seamlessly.
An additional feature in terms of quality assurance is the capability to work in a closed system to ensure the process remains free of dust and contamination. All disruptive influences that could have a negative influence on the process are intended to be eliminated this way. Frank Herzog: “These days it’s accurate to call this a regulated manufacturing process that provides repetition accuracy and process reliability.” Prof. Dr.-Ing. Emmelmann emphasizes by saying: “The QA software now enables us to monitor and document key data, such as laser parameters, melt pool parameters, as well as the composition of the inert gas atmosphere. Disruptions due to contamination can be eliminated.” Concept Laser can call itself a pioneer in this field too, since the company has been working on different quality improvement/monitoring modules since 2004.
“Green technology” conserves resources
Milling of aircraft parts results in up to 95% recyclable waste. With laser melting, the user receives components with “near-final contours,” and the process produces only about 5 % waste. “In aircraft manufacturing, we work with the “buy to fly ratio”, and 90 % is a fantastic figure. This is, of course, also reflected by the energy balance”, according to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus Emmelmann. This makes the process especially attractive when using valuable and expensive aircraft materials, such as titanium. A tool-less manufacturing strategy saves time and improves the cost structure. Targeted energy consumption and conservation of resources are features of the laser melting process. Frank Herzog: “LaserCUSING is a green technology and improves the often discussed environmental footprint of production.”
Spare parts supply 2.0: Timely, decentralized and “on demand”
Spare parts constitute a new playing field for “additive aeronauts”. In future it will be possible to manufacture them “on demand” at decentralized locations without the need for tools. In the event of a component failure, the spare part can be produced directly on site. Decentralized production networks can be created and global and regional strategies are possible. This minimizes transport distances and, above all, delivery times. As a consequence, maintenance-related downtimes and inspection times for aircraft are reduced. In future it will be possible to significantly reduce the large spare parts depots with parts rarely used that are currently essential given the long life cycles of today’s aircraft. A reduced capital commitment increases flexibility and especially the time needed to obtain safety-related components. This is especially attractive given the cost pressure in the aviation industry.
For more information
Web: www.concept-laser.de
