\n\tPratt & Whitney, East Hartford, Conn., reports that its first production PurePower PW1500G engines will also be the first jet engines to include entry-into-service parts produced via additive manufacturing. The engines, which will be delivered to Bombardier this year, will include compressor stators and synch-ring brackets made via AM.<\/p>\n
\n\t“We are a vertically integrated additive manufacturing producer with our own metal powder source and the printers necessary to create parts by this innovative technology,” said Tom Prete, Pratt & Whitney’s Engineering vice president.<\/p>\n
\n\tIn production tests, Pratt & Whitney has achieved up to 15 months lead-time savings compared to conventional manufacturing processes, and up to 50% weight reduction in a single part. The PurePower engine family parts will be the first produced via 3D printing powder bed additive manufacturing.<\/p>\n
\n\tRelated manufacturing technologies that will be used in PurePower engine production include metal injection molding, electron beam melting, and laser powder bed fusion (including direct metal laser sintering). <\/p>\n
\n\tPratt & Whitney and the University of Connecticut are also collaborating to advance additive manufacturing research and development. The Pratt & Whitney Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center is the first of its kind in the Northeast region to work with metal powder bed technologies. With more than $4.5 million invested, the center will further advance its additive manufacturing capabilities, while providing educational opportunities for the next generation of manufacturing engineers.<\/p>\n