GKN Aerospace Leverages AM Explorer for Aerospace Engine Manufacturing
GKN Aerospace has significantly expanded its use of AM Explorer software in its additive manufacturing (AM) operations. The software, developed by Interspectral AB, enhances GKN Aerospace’s ability to produce high-performance aerospace engine components. It achieves this by integrating 3D visualisation and AI-driven analysis. This integration improves the quality control, resource optimization, and production efficiency for additive manufacturing processes.
Initially adopted in early 2024, the AM Explorer software has been instrumental in ramping up GKN Aerospace’s AM capabilities. The company is focusing on developing AI-powered anomaly detection functions tailored for specific materials and large-scale additive manufacturing applications. This collaboration with Interspectral has further strengthened GKN’s commitment to reducing waste, lowering emissions, and improving manufacturing processes.
Reducing Material Waste and Enhancing Efficiency in Aerospace Production
GKN Aerospace has set its sights on reducing material waste and improving efficiency. This is done by integrating additive manufacturing into aerospace engine component production. Traditional methods rely heavily on large castings and forgings, with significant amounts of material often machined away during production. Additive manufacturing, however, uses a layer-by-layer construction process. It fuses metal powder or wire with lasers, which minimizes waste and energy consumption.
The company believes that these improvements can help address industry challenges such as high production costs, long lead times, and supply chain vulnerabilities. In addition, additive manufacturing provides GKN Aerospace with a more sustainable approach. This offers significant reductions in emissions and resource usage while maintaining aerospace industry quality standards. AM Explorer supports this by automating complex workflows and ensuring robust quality assurance throughout the manufacturing process.
AM Explorer’s Synergy with Nikon SLM NXG XII 600 Machines
The collaboration between GKN Aerospace and Nikon SLM Solutions further enhances the effectiveness of AM Explorer. GKN uses the NXG XII 600 Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) machines, which are vital for large-scale additive manufacturing. The integration of AM Explorer with these machines makes over 400 data points accessible to GKN engineers. This reduces the need for developing internal tools and allows engineers to closely monitor the entire manufacturing process.
The real-time data collected through AM Explorer is processed by an AI model specifically trained on high-resolution images from the NXG machines. The software’s powerful visualisation tools allow engineers to analyze data. This ensures defect-free builds, optimized manufacturing workflows, and faster production cycles. These capabilities improve the stability and resource efficiency of the entire production process.
SuperMetalPrice Commentary:
The adoption of AM Explorer by GKN Aerospace marks a significant milestone in the aerospace industry’s shift toward more efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes. By combining advanced AI-driven analysis with additive manufacturing, GKN is positioning itself at the forefront of aerospace innovation. The integration with Nikon’s PBF-LB technology and the focus on reducing waste, emissions, and energy consumption shows a growing trend toward sustainability in aerospace. This development is likely to set new benchmarks for manufacturing practices in the sector. Industries strive to meet stringent environmental regulations and reduce their carbon footprint.
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