Creating of aviation part «Swirler» from Inconel 718 heat-resistant alloy by the technology of selective laser sintering

Abstract

In order to solve the problems of improving the reliability and efficiency of aircraft engines, the paper considers as an alternative to traditional methods of obtaining aviation parts using additive production. According to the three-dimensional digital model (CAD/CAM/CAE-systems), additive technologies allow creating complex structures with high mechanical and operational characteristics. They must be complied with the standard ASTM F2792.1549323-1. The process of additive production is characterized by a sequence of operations: construction of a digital 3D–model → the choice of additive technology and its implementation → obtaining the finished part. In the work it is proposed to consider the possibility of growing the aircraft part «Swirler» from heat-resistant nickel alloy Inconel 718 by selective laser sintering technology in a 3D–printer type EOS M400 under the conditions of JSC «Motor Sich». Spherical nickel-based powders from Sino-Euro Materials Technologies of Xi'an Co., Ltd. were used as starting powder materials. (Sino Euro, China) and LPW Technology, Ltd (LPW, UK). The dependence of the mechanical and heat-resistant properties of the Inconel 718 alloy on the direction of growth of the part (in particular, the horizontal direction XY and the vertical direction Z) was established experimentally. Metallographic studies of Inconel 718 alloy samples before and after the heat treatment process were performed. With the help of Unigraphics NX 7.5, the modeling of an aircraft part was performed, which begins with the construction of a sketch, design of a digital 3D–model of the part and its editing. It is shown that the cultivation of the aviation part «Swirler» by the technology of selective laser sintering is characterized by: a smaller number of technological operations for the manufacture of «complex» in the geometric configuration of the part; reducing up to 6 times the lack of finished parts; reduction of material costs for equipment and additional machining; reduction to 12–17 % of the weight of the part in comparison with its metal analogue obtained by machining. Keywords: additive technologies, selective laser sintering, Inconel 718, 3D–model, aviation part.