TECH WATCH
This is big. Specifically, the one meter cubed (1,000 mm x 1,000 mm x
1,000 mm) build envelope of General Electric's new laser-powder additive
manufacturing machine. When it rolls out in late 2018, the beast of an
additive machine may well be the industry's biggest.
GE's Big Powder Play
This is a fuel nozzle GE produced for a turbofan engine with
its forthcoming ATLAS additive machine. The company says
auto applications are ideal, as well.
By Scott Anderson, Contributing Editor
GE Additive ( geadditive.com ) announced the machine, which it appro-
priately calls ATLAS, at the Paris Air Show, with plans to unveil it formally
in November at the Formnext Show in Frankfurt, Germany.
"The machine will 3D print aviation parts that are one meter in
diameter, suitable for making jet engine structural components and parts
for single-aisle aircraft," says Mohammad Ehteshami vice president and
general manager of GE Additive. "The machine will also be applicable for
manufacturers in the automotive, power, and oil and gas industries."
The company has been working on ATLAS for the last two years, with a
number of proof-of-concept machines setting the stage. In fact, GE owns
Concept Laser, a German additive builder, whose XLine 2000R technology
lays claim to the largest laser-powder bed additive machine with a build
envelope of 800mm x 400mm x 500mm.
GE says parts made from aluminum and titanium are among the
materials ATLAS will be able to handle.
Some customers could receive a beta model by the end of this year.
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