The use of an advanced process technology, like Additive Manufacturing (AM), can be a crucial asset to a company. According to a new whitepaper from the Nadcap program, AM is rapidly becoming a transformative manufacturing technology that can save development time, reduce component weight, and decrease parts inventory.

AM uses laser and electron beams along with CAD 3D modeling software to fuse plastic or metal powder into usable parts with high tolerances and complex geometries, like those used in aerospace.

Nadcap provides an Audit Checklist for the Laser and Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion AM process, to be used prior to a process audit to help a company ensure its practices and processes comply with established standards. Independent process audits can help a company demonstrate proficiency in a particular process.

Nadcap is also developing an audit checklist for Powder Material Manufacture for use in Metallic Additive Manufacturing. The aerospace industry was one of the first adopters of additive manufacturing, recognizing its promise for producing both prototype and production quality parts. Nadcap works closely with the aerospace community to develop audit checklists and accreditation programs covering numerous manufacturing processes, some of which support AM.

The Nadcap whitepaper on additive manufacturing was authored by Richard Freeman, a Principal Engineer at the Performance Review Institute (PRI) (which administrates the Nadcap program). In the paper, he reviews the various AM processes, lists several of the aerospace parts being produced with it, and some of the engineering standards that apply to the technology.

The increased use of Additive Manufacturing technology in aerospace may lead to more cost and fuel-efficient aircraft. The process is also seeing adoption by the medical device, automotive, and electronics sectors.

To read the full Nadcap whitepaper on AM, or to download a pdf of it, go to the Resources section of the PRI website at: https://p-r-i.org/resources/  and search under ‘Nadcap’ and/or ‘Whitepapers’.  If you’d like additional information about Nadcap, email Nadcapinfo@p-r-i.org.