A case study of the manufacture of an aircraft frame using forging, machining form billet and direct metal depostion has demonstrated the theoretical effects on the overall cycle time using rapid manufacturing of complex airframe structural members. Candidate manufacturing processes for rapid manufacturing fall into two categories: indirect and direct. The indirect processes are characterised by requiring further operations to translate a geometrical master into a finished part whilst the direct processes are creating fit for purpose material at or near the component geometry in a single operation. It is possible to conclude form the case study and from considerations addressed elsewhere in this paper that there is a significant, although not yet fully defined, benefit to employing rapid manufacturing processes in airframe porduction. The factors that would make these processes attractive are the single stage of near shape manufacture and the very cost-efficient use of raw material. These attributes are demonstrated in the structural component case study presented here.
The place for rapid manufacturing in military airframe production
Materials Technology ; 15 , 1 ; 34-37
2000
4 Seiten, 2 Bilder, 1 Tabelle
Article (Journal)
English