Incorporating 3D Metal Printing with Artificial Intelligence in Meeting Aerospace Demands

Abstract

3D metal printing and aerospace industry is an ideal combination where 3D metal printing offers unmatched advantages over the conventional method in terms of its rapid prototyping, rapid tooling, easy maintenance and repairs. With the provision and implementation of 3D metal printing onto aerospace sector, leading manufacturers are now enjoying great benefits as this exciting technology reduces the lead-time, increases production flexibility as well as cost-effective. However, we are now left with a big question: whether or not this 3D metal printing technology has arrived to its maximum capacity where the system operates with no flaw. Previous studies have shown that 3D metal printing is battling with its consistency, repeatability and traceability due to many independent variables that need to be controlled in a single run. Adoption of Artificial Intelligence onto the 3D metal printing has been viewed to be a promising step and therefore, serves as a cornerstone towards a better development of 3D metal printing technology.

Application and Development of Modern 3D Printing Technology in the Field of Orthopedics

“…3D printing has developed rapidly as a new industrial technology recently. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing, this additive manufacturing method is widely used in aerospace, vehicle manufacturing, energy storage, bioengineering, medical devices, and dentistry [ 1 – 3 ]. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), refers to the use of print heads, nozzles, or other printing technologies to produce powdery metals, plastics, biological materials, and other adhesive materials by layer-by-layer printing based on digital models [ 4 ].…”

Directed Energy Deposition via Artificial Intelligence‐Enabled Approaches

“…is method helps the printer learn and understand the problem and therefore find the best solution using AI. When the machine can understand the relation of one parameter to another, it can decide which parameter will be best to get which output [71].…”

“…When incorporated with 3D printers, AI's resultant system helps aerospace manufacturers make more accurate and precise products like aero-parts, which are more flexible, less costly, and produce less waste [71].…”

Additive manufacturing technology, process parameters influencing product quality and its applications

“…The applications of AM in this field are of two types: manufacturing and repair. Repair is mainly done with the LMD process to repair damaged parts, by depositing the powder particles only on the section to be repaired [76]. The use of AM in aerospace because it is possible to manufacture dense parts with less post-processing.…”