General Electric has achieved an industry-first by printing the world’s first operational jet engine.
The project was carried out at the additive development centre in Ohio, US, by a team of technicians, machinists and engineers.
The miniature engine achieves 33,000 rpm and was printed in 12 separate parts on an EOS M270 industrial 3D printer.
The solution is GE’s first functioning prototype and may open the door for industrial 3D printing.
Researchers at Melbourne’s Monash University, Australia and its spinoff Amaero Engineering, earlier this year built two metal jet engines.
Despite not being operational, the solutions included all the working parts of a functioning gas turbine engine and attracted attention from plane manufacturers like Airbus, Boeing, and defence contractor Raytheon.
Airbus was one of the first to use a – Stratasys – 3D printer to speed its production and meet delivery deadlines.
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