GE Additive and the US Air Force have formed a collaboration to develop 3D printed parts for the F110 jet aircraft engine.
Currently, the company is focused on printing a sump cover for the GE F110 engine. While the covers are traditionally cast from aluminum, GE engineers created the parts from cobalt-chrome powder using the company’s Concept Laser M2 machine.
‘Compared to other parts on the F110 engine, the sump cover might have lower functionality, but it is incredibly important,’ said James Bonar, engineering manager at GE Additive. It needs to be durable, form a seal and it needs to work for the entire engine to function,’
Plans are to 3D print more complex components such as sump cover housings and heat exchangers, GE said.
This story uses material from GE Additive, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
