Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Safran (Chalet 137) unveiled its Add+ technology demonstrator engine this week at the Paris Air Show. Based on the company’s current Arrius helicopter engine, 30 percent of components of the Add+ are made using 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing. The engine will undergo ground run testing later this year.

 


Safran’s goal for Add+ is to use it to facilitate an increased 3D-printed parts count in its production engines. On Add+, major engine components—including nozzle guide vanes, combustion chamber, and stator rear module—are made using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) techniques. This allows assemblies of hundreds of separate pieces to be molded into a single piece. By way of example, the accessory gearbox casing is now made of two pieces instead of 12.

 


Add+ also integrates components manufactured by metal injection molding, such as free power turbine blades.

 


“We started work on an existing engine model and redesigned almost 30 percent of its components using additive manufacturing techniques, with a view to integrating those components into serial production units. When we start ground runs, we will evaluate behavior of these new parts in operation,” said Etienne Hesse, Add+ program coordinator for Safran Helicopter Engines.&nbsp;

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Safran Unveils Add+ Engine with 3D Printing

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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