GKN Aerospace and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory launch the TITAN-AM program. With an investment of $8.4 million, they aim to industrialize the manufacturing of large titanium components using laser wire deposition. The goal is to bring this technology to a production level relevant to the aerospace industry.
Laser wire deposition as the key for large parts 🚀
The LMD-w technology uses a titanium wire as filler material, melted by a high-power laser to build parts layer by layer. This method is suitable for large components, as it can be faster and generate less waste than traditional subtractive manufacturing or the use of powder in other additive techniques. The program focuses on overcoming productivity and quality challenges for industrial use.
Your toy plane won't have these upgrades yet 😉
While companies advance in titanium manufacturing for wings or fuselages, the average citizen must settle for knowing that their next low-cost flight will be, perhaps, 0.5% more efficient. Direct benefits, like cheaper tickets, are a long-term promise. For now, we can admire the technology from afar, just as we look at a military fighter jet: we know it's there, but we're not going to pilot it.