Participants: LTU Divison of Product Innovation and GKN Aerospace Engine Systems
Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, brings an expanded design freedom that provides a potential for novel design solutions. For the space industry in particular, possibilities such as light-weight design, part consolidation (fewer parts), and integrated functions are alluring. Furthermore, AM has the potential to decrease cost and lead time in both product development and production through rapid manufacturing of prototypes and parts. In the increasingly competitive environment characterizing the space industry, enhanced product performance and reduced time to market are key drivers for companies and their product offerings. At the same time, product quality has to be maintained to ascertain successful missions.
This project is a continuation of research done within RIT at Product Innovation (LTU). The purpose of this project is to further develop the understanding of how different characteristics of AM processes should be considered as factors in the design process. One example is AM surface roughness which is typically more rough than for many conventional materials, and which may impact part performance negatively through decreased function or susceptibility for material failure. The project will study different design factors in order to understand which ones that need specific attention during design, and provide guidance for how engineers can approach additive design in a manner that utilize the potentials with AM, while maintaining product quality.
See Didun Obilanade’s phenomenal presentation of his licentiate thesis on LinkedIn here.
