3D Printing in Turbomachinery: Overview of Technologies, Applications and Possibilities for Industry 4.0

Abstract

Customization and providing tailored products, while keeping highly automated production with minimum manufacturing personnel, is a general trend, and one of the expectations of manufacturing companies from developed countries to stand in competition against cheap mass production. This trend, often also called “industry 4.0”, is taking advantage of many innovative and quickly developing technologies like AM or 3D printing. Applications of 3D printing are also getting into the field of turbomachinery. The first part of the paper provides a review of current 3D printing technologies with respect to applications in turbomachinery field. Several technologies, mostly for producing a metal or plastic product, exist and can be considered. Applications for the components range from single Watts to hundreds MW scale and similarly for various other operating conditions. The second part briefly describes possible practical applications concerning multiple situations as research and development, customization of end-product, operative field-testing, or temporary replacements.

Improving Aeromechanical Performance of Compressor Rotor Blisk with Topology Optimization

“…Turbomachinery systems need to be highly efficient in order to meet the increasing demand for energy [1]. In this context, additive manufacturing (AM) [2][3][4] today represents a flexible and powerful alternative with respect to traditional subtractive manufacturing process.…”

3D Printing of Green and Renewable Polymeric Materials: Toward Greener Additive Manufacturing

“…These developments were not limited to any field but rather were opportunities for design and production at any level. While these advantages have been utilized to excellent effect in some instances, such as in metal 3D printing of engines and turbo machinery, polymeric 3D printing has not seen the same advancement beyond more traditional, subtractive manufacturing methods relative to metal AM. , This is likely due to both public perception and the mechanical performances of the resultant parts. While public perception will be affected by considerations including cost and availability (to individual users), beyond just the design components, part performances are dictated both by the materials that are leveraged as well as the processing techniques themselves.…”