New era of manufacturing technology
New era of manufacturing technology is commenced:
Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a transformative manufacturing technology that plays a key role in the precision manufacturing industry. Recently, additive manufacturing technology has found a wide range of applications in the maritime sector in which great innovations can be introduced for development.
The present 3D printing technology is now available for production of auxiliary components for ships and particularly components and spare parts for pumps, valves, heat exchangers, engines, propellers and catalysers. For example, following a rigorous testing process, verified by Bureau Veritas, the world’s first class approved 3D printed ship’s propeller, the WAAMpeller, has been unveiled at Damen Shipyard Group’s headquarters in the Netherlands. Furthermore, GE, Fraunhofer IGCV, and voxeljet AG have entered into a research partnership to develop the world’s largest 3D printer for offshore wind applications in order to streamline the production of key components of GE’s Haliade-X offshore wind turbine.
Additionally, Low-costs and increased capabilities of 3D printing technologies are creating unprecedented opportunities in the world of oceanography research. For example, 3D printed components are being employed in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), and micro underwater vehicles (MUVs).