United Engine Corporation has introduced an integrated additive manufacturing process at UEC-Kuznetsov. Currently, printing of low-emission combustion chamber (LECC) parts for NK-36ST industrial engine has been implemented.
The use of LECC in engines helps to reduce air pollution emissions.
Serial production of LECC parts using direct and selective laser growth techniques resulted in reduction of parts manufacturing time by 15% compared with the traditional manufacturing methods. The technique also ensures high utilization ratio – more than 70%, while the amount of reject is not higher than 5%.
“The Samara-based company is now extensively developing its production capabilities. Today, it is a modern industrial center that uses advanced techniques, including 3D printing, in serial production. Additive techniques used together with an intellectual design-to-manufacture system helped to provide ten high-tech work stations and to reduce the manufacturing time of the industrial engine parts,” said Pavel Tchupin, General Designed of UEC-Kuznetsov.
Moreover, manufacturing of parts from new types of domestic powder alloys has been launched, including nickel-based and titanium-based alloys. Bench tests of the “grown” parts included in NK-36ST engine prototype have completely confirmed the strength, temperature and environmental parameters of the engine with low-emission combustion chamber.
