Metal Additive Manufacturing for Propulsion Applications

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes are proving to be a disruptive technology and are grabbing the attention of the propulsion industry. AM-related advancements in new industries, supply chains, design opportunities, and novel materials are increasing at a rapid pace. The goal of this text is to provide an overview of the practical concept-to-utilization lifecycle in AM for propulsion applications. As with any new process, it's tempting to get caught up in the excitement of AM and its application and to give little forethought to the potential economic and technical challenges. This text is intended to help AM adopters to be intentional as they apply these technologies, and to understand the basis for the lifecycle of AM components. It is a practical guide based on lessons learned and experiences with both successes and in failures in AM. The organization of this text seeks to guide an engineer through the intertwined basics, regarding design and implementation, as they begin their journey into AM. The book is also relevant for veteran AM users as a reference. While AM is still in the development phase and continues to evolve, the fundamental lessons learned remain of great value even as forthcoming technology emerges. While many metal AM processes are referenced, the book focuses on those with more industry maturity, including powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition.