Arconic Offers Hybrid Ampliforge Process for High-Performance Aerospace Components
Rapid 2018: The Ampliforge technique combines 3D printing with manufacturing processes such as forging to increase toughness, fatigue and strength.
Arconic’s Ampliforge process combines the advantages of additive and advanced forging processes for high-performance aerospace parts, such as these spars. (See them full-sized in the next image.)
Arconic recently announced a cooperative research agreement with Airbus to develop processes and parameters for high deposition rate 3D printing technologies that are suited to the production of large, structural airframe parts, such as spars and wing ribs, and can be used to produce preforms for the Ampliforge process.
Arconic showcases its Ampliforge process, a hybrid technique that the company says combines the advantages of additive manufacturing and advanced forging processes.
Using the Ampliforge process, Arconic designs and 3D prints a near-complete part, then treats it using an advanced manufacturing process, such as forging. According to the company, this process enhances the properties of 3D-printed parts, increasing toughness, fatigue and strength versus parts made solely by additive manufacturing. The resulting parts have properties that meet existing forging specifications for strength, fracture toughness, fatigue and metal integrity, while offering with tooling costs, fewer forging operations and better utilization of raw material.
The Ampliforge process reduces material input and production lead times, expanding the range of aerospace applications for AM to include larger aerospace parts, such as the spars pictured.
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