Has announced that 3D printing is leading the way for the next generation of aircraft engines. The Advance3 engine will form the core of the company’s UltraFan engine design, scheduled for launch in 2025. The Advance3 engine uses 3D printing, or Additive Layer Manufacturing, to make some of the 20,000 components. Ash Owen, Rolls-Royce, Chief Engineer, Civil Aerospace Demonstrator Programmes, said: “Testing so far has been completely seamless, which is an outstanding achievement when you realise that this is an engine incorporating a range of new technologies as well as a brand new core architecture. We have completed our first phase of testing and analysing the results right now. We like what we see from the CMC and ALM parts performance.” The aerospace industry has already started to use CMCs. due to their ability to operate in extreme temperature environments, such as the hot section of the engine. As temperatures increase in the engine fuel use becomes more efficient, and therefore operating costs lower for airlines. Through use of CMCs and 3D printing, the Advance3 core, “Will offer a 25 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency compared with a first generation Trent engine.” Increased fuel efficiency will also result in lower emissions.
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