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Watch: Engineers 3D Printed a Model Jet Engine, Then Started it Up

24 points by downandout 12y ago

imglorp 12y ago
After printing, there was still some machining and polishing.
vanderZwan 12y ago
> In contrast to traditional machining methods that typically cut parts out of larger pieces to get to a finished shape, additive manufacturing uses lasers to fuse thin layers of metal on top of each other to build parts from the ground up. This advanced technique means less material waste and more complex parts that can be built precisely to optimize how they work inside a machine. Doesn't this usually come at a higher energy cost, even if you include the energy required to provide the wasted resources?
- Gracana 12y ago
  Probably. Traditional machining processes have become very efficient due to the enormous industry and many years of innovation. I think the more important part there is "more complex parts." You can have arbitrary complexity at no additional cost, which is really cool. Now you can do cooling fins and support ribs and impossible snaking holes* and all sorts of stuff without needing additional machine setups or tooling. * such as the fuel injectors for some GE jet engines, which can now only be made using this technology
- viggity 12y ago
  if you're starting with a block of aluminum or a bin of powdered aluminum, then yeah, the tooling for machining the solid block would likely take less energy than the laser used for sintering the powder. However if you take into account the energy necessary to cast the aluminum block in the first place, the laser may be more efficient. But, for all I know they take cast aluminum billets and some how shred/powderize instead of making the powder as it is refined.
Gracana 12y ago
My shop is looking at getting one of these 3D printers. The output quality is similar to a nice casting, and like a good casting, you can machine the relatively-rough surface and expose nice solid metal underneath. With technology like that, I'd be able to make so many things much more easily.. Just make the model, print it out, and machine only the important surfaces. Cool stuff!

24 points by downandout 12y ago

After printing, there was still some machining and polishing.

> In contrast to traditional machining methods that typically cut parts out of larger pieces to get to a finished shape, additive manufacturing uses lasers to fuse thin layers of metal on top of each other to build parts from the ground up. This advanced technique means less material waste and more complex parts that can be built precisely to optimize how they work inside a machine. Doesn't this usually come at a higher energy cost, even if you include the energy required to provide the wasted resources?

Gracana 12y ago
Probably. Traditional machining processes have become very efficient due to the enormous industry and many years of innovation. I think the more important part there is "more complex parts." You can have arbitrary complexity at no additional cost, which is really cool. Now you can do cooling fins and support ribs and impossible snaking holes* and all sorts of stuff without needing additional machine setups or tooling. * such as the fuel injectors for some GE jet engines, which can now only be made using this technology
viggity 12y ago
if you're starting with a block of aluminum or a bin of powdered aluminum, then yeah, the tooling for machining the solid block would likely take less energy than the laser used for sintering the powder. However if you take into account the energy necessary to cast the aluminum block in the first place, the laser may be more efficient. But, for all I know they take cast aluminum billets and some how shred/powderize instead of making the powder as it is refined.

Gracana 12y ago

My shop is looking at getting one of these 3D printers. The output quality is similar to a nice casting, and like a good casting, you can machine the relatively-rough surface and expose nice solid metal underneath. With technology like that, I'd be able to make so many things much more easily.. Just make the model, print it out, and machine only the important surfaces. Cool stuff!