Citation
(2009), "Laser-sintering meets tight tolerances in aircraft manufacture", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 81 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2009.12781aab.006
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Laser-sintering meets tight tolerances in aircraft manufacture
Article Type: Aerospace Technology From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 81, Issue 1
A US supplier to the aerospace industry, Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems, Oregon, has purchased an EOSINT P 390 laser-sintering machine from EOS, Germany, to produce aircraft components directly from CAD models by fusing successive layers of polyamide powder. Among the components being manufactured are parts for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) manufactured by US company, Insitu Inc., in neighbouring Washington County.
Northwest UAV specialises in producing complex temperature controllers and shrouds for cylinder heads as well as a variety of other parts for UAVs, and has supplied over 1,500 turnkey propulsion systems to Insitu.
Chris Harris, President of Northwest UAV, said, “Our greatest concern is meeting the tight tolerances and consistent quality that aircraft designs require.”
“The P 390 provides us with consistent, uniform, high-quality parts produced from PA 2201 and PrimePart DC powders that eliminate the need for secondary finishing operations, such as sanding.”
With assistance and training from EOS, Northwest UAV was able to go from machine installation to part production in just ten days. An essential step in the process was tuning parameters on the P 390 to hold tolerances within 25 μm.
Previously, the company ordered the parts from an outside supplier and performed sanding and other finishing processes on them. Manufacturing the parts in-house has reduced costs associated with the supply chain, finishing, part inspection and storage. Northwest UAV is now able to deliver the components just-in-time and implement design changes within a couple of days, compared with weeks before plastic laser-sintering was adopted.
Details available from: EOS Electro Optical Systems Ltd, Tel.: +44 (0) 1926 623107, Fax: +44 (0) 1926 623108.