GE Additive to Build Additive Manufacturing Machine That Prints Meter-Wide Parts for Aerospace

Additive manufacturing developer GE Additive is working to create the world’s largest laser-powder additive manufacturing machine.

Tailored for the aerospace industry, the machine will be able to print in a build envelop of 1 m³. The development project, announced at The Paris Air Show, will be unveiled in November at the Formnext Show in Frankfurt, Germany.

“The machine will 3D print aviation parts that are one meter in diameter, suitable for making jet engine structural components and parts for single-aisle aircraft,” said Mohammad Ehteshami, vice president and general manager of GE Additive. “The machine will also be applicable for manufacturers in the automotive, power and oil and gas industries.”

The initial technology demonstrator machine, ATLAS, is a laser/powder machine and will be meter-class in at least two directions. The GE team has been developing the machine over the past two years and several proof-of-concept machines have been built.

In the machine’s production version, the build geometry will be customizable and scalable for an individual customer’s project. It is designed to be used with multiple materials including nonreactive and reactive materials such as aluminium and titanium.

“We have customers collaborating with us and they will receive beta versions of the machine by year’s end,” Ehteshami said. “The production version, yet to be named, will be available for purchase next year.”

The technology demonstrator builds upon GE technology, combined with Concept Laser GmbH’s laser additive machines. GE is aiming for first deliveries of the machine in late 2018.

GE Additive is a developer of machines, powders and engineering for advanced manufacturing.