Rolls-Royce considers 3D printing for lighter jet engine parts

Henner Wapenhans, head of the company's technology strategy, told the Financial Times yesterday that the technology could be used to create engine parts more quickly. "3D printing opens up new possibilities, new design space," Wapenhans commented. "Through 3D printing processes, you're not constrained by having to get a tool in to create a shape. You can create any shape you like." The Rolls-Royce executive said the company's use of 3D printing was 'a few years away' yet, but hinted that it could be used to slash lead times and help gain an 'inventory advantage', with less need to store parts. He continued: "One of the great advantages in the aerospace world is that some of these parts that we make have very long lead times, because of the tooling process that's got to [happen], and then it takes potentially 18 months to get the first part after placing an order – versus printing it, which could be done quite rapidly. "Even if it takes, you know, a week to print, that's still a lot faster."