3D printing a jet engine: An undergraduate project to exploit additive manufacturing now and in the future

Abstract

If 3D printing (3DP) is to lead to the revolution in material efficiency, component design and manufacturing suggested by many commentators, the next generation of engineering graduates must be equipped with a sound understanding of the process. Often for students to have significant exposure to 3DP, they must undertake a research project as part of a postgraduate degree. However, undergraduate projects with a more limited scope provide an ideal opportunity to get experience of the technology, its benefits and limitations. Here we describe a project designed to allow students to gain first-hand experience of the technology by giving them the freedom to manufacture a 3DP jet engine. Unfortunately, factors outside of our control meant that the jet engine remains untested. However, it was always envisaged that the major benefit of this teaching project would be the significant understanding gained by the students. While it is hard to objectively judge this, we feel that the project has achieved these aims and hope this will lead to an increased awareness of 3DP in industry and help the next generation of engineers to efficiently design components specifically for 3DP.