14 DAY TRIAL // Some time ago, airplane engine makers, or some of them, began to use additive manufacturing to make some of the most important parts. Now, helicopter makers are doing the same. Or one of them is.
Turbomeca is a French manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters.
One of the business programs currently in progress is one called Future Line, intended to bring the company up to date in terms of manufacturing capabilities.
3D printing is a vital asset apparently. The company has created a new fabrication facility that will exclusively be tasked with creating Ardiden 3 combustor swirlers for Arrano helicopter engines.
Meanwhile, it will add high velocity oxy-fuel coatings that will enhance the compressor and turbine blade manufacturing capabilities still being done in Bordes.
Selective laser sintering technology is being used, capable of melting layers down to 100 micrometers thin. A nickel-based super-alloy powder is the raw material.
Turbomeca claims that the new fuel injector nozzles will have advanced injection and cooling functions, compared to the ones resulting from conventional manufacturing techniques and which are, invariably, made of multiple components instead of being single, whole pieces.