GKN Aerospace adds Renishaw RenAM 500Q Flex at its Global Technology Centre
GKN Aerospace has expanded the range of metal Additive Manufacturing machines at the company’s Global Technology Centre in Bristol, UK, with installation of a RenAM 500Q Flex from Renishaw, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, UK. The RenAM 500Q Flex is expected to provide valuable feedback on how to optimise Additive Manufacturing for aerospace applications.
Renishaw first collaborated with GKN Aerospace in 2014 as a part of the Horizon project – funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) – which aimed to develop Additive Manufacturing techniques into viable production processes for aerospace parts and components. Since then, GKN Aerospace has developed its understanding of the technology and reputedly uses the process across all business streams, developing components for aero-engines, civil aero-structures and functional systems.
After seeing the benefits of Additive Manufacturing, GKN Aerospace and Renishaw discussed how the aerospace manufacturer could benefit from the new Flex machine. The RenAM 500Q Flex features include the ability to quickly change materials and do a powder count more easily than on a recirculating system.
“We wanted to find an advanced AM system to help us to develop a highly stable, highly repeatable and highly measurable manufacturing process that results in zero defects,” stated Bradley Hughes, Senior Research Engineer at GKN Aerospace. “While we knew the benefits of the existing RenAM 500Q, the Flex platform offers a variety of benefits that are not always possible in AM. The in-process monitoring capabilities, for example, enable us to monitor performance metrics that are essential for the aerospace industry. The system is also designed to enable material changes, something that is normally a complex process when working with AM systems, so it allows us to be more efficient when working on products using different materials.”
“By engaging with the Renishaw team and collaborating during machine development, we can help them build a machine that really meets customer requirements,” continued Hughes. “Renishaw has been closely involved in the entire process of commissioning the RenAM 500Q Flex, offering support with installation, training and resolving any initial issues when learning to operate the machine.”
The RenAM 500Q Flex is a four-laser Additive Manufacturing machine that offers the same optical, chamber and gas-flow designs as the RenAM 500 series, while providing additional flexibility when changing powders. Users can quickly change powders in-house to meet demand, while parameters and material properties can transfer between systems due to the common build environment.
“Working collaboratively with customers enables us to understand their requirements and develop systems that provide flexibility and productivity levels they need,” added Bryan Austin, Director of Sales in Renishaw’s Additive Manufacturing Group. “Collaborating with GKN Aerospace not only allows us to understand how the aerospace industry can benefit from the Flex platform, but we can also better understand the future requirements of the aerospace sector in Additive Manufacturing.”
