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Cited by 628Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing TechnologiesAdditive Manufacturing Materials and ProcessesInnovations in Concrete and Construction Materials

3D printing in aerospace and its long-term sustainability

Open access
Joshi, Sunil C., Sheikh, Abdullah A.·2015·Virtual and Physical Prototyping
DOI 10.1080/17452759.2015.1111519
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Abstract

Astonishingly 3D printing has excited the world of aerospace. This paper takes stock of the popular 3D printing processes in aerospace. Reasons for their popularity over the traditional manufacturing processes are dwelled upon. Materials developed specially for aerospace applications along with their characteristics are discussed. Ongoing activities related to 3D printing at various companies and organisations around the world are looked into. Project works in the area of extra-terrestrial printing are also highlighted. Even though 3D printing processes are operationally simple, they do have limitations in terms of the type, quality, and quantity of the materials they can handle. This paper underlines these points while discussing drawbacks of the printed components. Challenges associated with 3D printing in microgravity are also touched upon. Finally, a glimpse is taken into the future appearance of aerospace industry with 3D printing.

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  • AM produces little to no waste with buy-to-fly ratios of between 1:1 and 3:1.

    “By the nature of the layer-by-layer manufacturing process, AM produces little to no waste with buy-to-fly ratios of between 1:1 and 3:1 [18,19].”

    From Metal additive manufacturing in aerospace: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [19]

    The Material Wastage section says AM involves little to no raw-material wastage. The General Outlook section says 3D printing can reduce the buy-to-fly ratio to almost 1:1, but it does not give the claimed upper bound of 3:1. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 37

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Authors
Joshi, S. C., & Sheikh, A. A.
Affiliations
Nanyang Technological University (SG)
Corresponding author
Joshi, Sunil C.
ORCID
Joshi, Sunil C.
Venue
Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2015-10-02
Volume
10
Issue
4
Pages
175-185
ISSN
  • 1745-2759 (ISSN-L)
  • 1745-2767
DOI
10.1080/17452759.2015.1111519
OpenAlex
W2268908313
Cited by
628
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 36 · 2025: 73 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 86 · 2022: 103 · 2021: 87 · 2020: 66 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 4
FWCI
11.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Virtual and Physical Prototyping (publishedVersion)
  • DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials
Keywords
3D printing, additive manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing, aerospace materials, microgravity, sustainability

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