TWI in pole position with additive manufacturing project

TWI is taking the lead in the Open Architecture Additive Manufacturing (OAAM) project to demonstrate the ability to manufacture large metallic components via additive manufacturing (AM) for the benefit of UK aerospace.

The OAAM programme plans to develop directed energy deposition (DED) AM technologies that can be scaled up to accept multi-metre component sizes. TWI will work with project partners Airbus, Autodesk, Cranfield University, Glenalmond Group, University of Bath, University of Manchester and University of Strathclyde to create three DED AM process platforms which will enable aerospace manufacturers and their supply chains to develop advanced AM manufacturing concepts in the following fields: arc-wire/laser-wire AM (Cranfield University); electron beam wire AM (TWI Cambridge); and laser-powder/laser-wire AM (TWI Yorkshire Technology Centre).

Each of these systems will offer unique AM capabilities and address a number of common needs: scalable architecture solutions, with common CAD/CAM control interfacing; integrated process steps (NDT, machining, inspection, cold-work) as necessary for optimum implementation to aerospace requirements; and the ability to manufacture aerospace components using AM to TRL 6 or MCRL 4/5.

These new AM systems will be truly state-of-the-art research facilities for their respective AM process variants, and will be made available to UK industry, leveraging key expertise resident within the hosting research organisations.

They will establish a fully quantifiable process that aims to put UK suppliers at the forefront of the technology and AM research. This will offer the UK aerospace sector access to next-generation manufacturing with a simplified, lower risk route to support AM’s industrialisation and rapidly deploy into aircraft platforms. A substantial amount of results overspill onto other sectors – such as energy and marine – is also predicted.

The project, which is supported by Innovate UK, commenced on 1^st January 2018 and will run for three years.

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