Codename-John Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 According to this BAE are starting to successfully use 3D printed parts for Tornado GR4 jets - UK fighter jets have flown for the first time with parts made using 3D printing technology. BAE Systems said the metal components were successfully used on board Tornado aircraft which flew from the defence firm's airfield at Warton, Lancashire, last month. It said engineers were using 3D technology to design and produce parts which could cut the Royal Air Force's maintenance and service bill by more than £1.2m over the next four years. Some of the parts costs less than £100. BAE Systems is already working at RAF Marham, in Norfolk, to engineer ready-made parts for four squadrons of Tornado GR4 aircraft - including protective covers for cockpit radios and guards for power take-off shafts. Mike Murray, head of airframe integration at BAE Systems, said: "You are suddenly not fixed in terms of where you have to manufacture these things. "You can manufacture the products at whatever base you want, providing you can get a machine there, which means you can also start to support other platforms such as ships and aircraft carriers. "And if it's feasible to get machines out on the front line, it also gives improved capability where we wouldn't traditionally have any manufacturing support." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowerman Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Looks like the 'Star Trek' self repairing vessel is not as far fetched as it seemed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Mowerman - and one of the few ways to do it if you go into 'deepspace' the problem would be the carrying of raw materials - espicailly in the inter-stellar regions, where raw materials are scarce. The way I would envisage it working are more along the lines of the Jack Campbell novels, Fleets of specialised craft, including 1 or more who hold materials and manufacture spares, in a support vessel role - similar to the use of RFAux refueling vessels. 3D printing is definatly beginning to get more popular, and the price for domestic machines is dropping. I have already got one on my wishlist for Christmas 2015! (around US$500plus shipping). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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