SA’s Aeroswift has built its first parts from world’s biggest 3D printer
The company is in talks with Airbus and Boeing, and last year made its first three demonstrator parts
South African researchers developing the world’s largest machine for producing aircraft parts using lasers to melt powdered titanium, are in talks with Airbus and Boeing, with the first commercial application expected in 2019. Officially launched in 2011 and backed by the government, the Aeroswift research project produced its first three demonstrator parts in 2016 — a pilot’s throttle lever; a condition lever grip, which is part of the throttle assembly; and a fuel tank pylon bracket — in a digital process known as 3D printing, or additive layer manufacturing. Increasingly adopted by the automotive, aerospace and military industries as a cheaper way of making complex parts, the new manufacturing process could save millions of dollars on fuel and production costs as aircraft makers replace aluminium bodies with lighter materials such as titanium alloys. "How best to commercialise the process is a discussion we are currently having with the Aeroswift partners and relevant government ...
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