Russia Will Begin To Use 3D Printing To Manufacture Aircraft Parts

Recently, the Russian State Technology Group announced that the Additive Technology Center under the group has obtained approval from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation to conduct mass 3D printing production of aviation components and other spare parts. This means that the Russian aviation industry will begin to use 3D printing to manufacture aircraft parts.

According to a report by the Russian "Satellite News Agency", the head of the Additive Technology Center stated that after obtaining permission from the government, the company can mass-produce components for civil passenger aircraft and military aircraft through 3D printing, which is an important node in the development of the Russian aviation manufacturing industry. . The person in charge also said that 3D printing can shorten the production time of certain aerospace parts from 6 months to 3 weeks. At the same time, 3D printed parts are not only stable in performance, but also lighter in weight and more reliable, which can effectively increase aircraft load and optimize flight performance. At present, the Additive Technology Center is Russia's largest 3D printing equipment company, with 41 3D printing equipment capable of printing 450 types of aviation parts.

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a technology that builds objects based on digital model files and uses bondable materials such as powdered metal or plastic to print layer by layer. Through this technology, it is possible to produce complex structural components that were previously restricted by traditional manufacturing processes and could not be realized.

According to reports, the Additive Technology Center of the Russian National Technology Group has begun to use 3D printing to produce PD-35 engine parts. The research and development of the PD-35 engine started in 2016, and mass production is planned for 2028. This high-thrust aero engine is mainly used in CR929 wide-body passenger aircraft. The production of PD-35 engine parts through 3D printing will help speed up the research and development of this type of engine, shorten the research and development cycle, and ensure that the product is put into production faster.

Not only that, the advantages of 3D printing are fully reflected in the manufacturing process of the PD-35 engine. For example, the weight of the engine is lighter, the power is greater, the performance of the parts is higher, and the cost-effectiveness is more obvious. At present, 15% of the parts and components of the Russian VK-650V and VK-1600V helicopter engines are produced by 3D printing. Among them, VK-650V engines are used in Ka-226 helicopters and Ansat-U helicopters, and VK-1600V engines are mainly used in Ka-62 multi-purpose helicopters. The application of 3D printing technology simplifies the parts manufacturing process, reduces the weight of the engine and the life cycle cost, and helps to improve the performance of these two helicopters.