Aeronautics company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) will be consulted by GE Additive’s AddWorks service to accelerate their metal printing plans. While GA-ASI may not be a household name, their products often appear on the evening news. They manufacture the MQ-9 Reaper and Predator C Avenger Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) platforms, better known as drones, as well as advanced electronics, optics, and radar systems.
Jason Oliver, President and CEO of GE Additive said, “Some of our AddWorks consultants are responsible for designing and then industrializing many of the additively manufactured aerospace parts that are in service today. By offering our learnings and in-depth knowledge of the aerospace and defense industry, we will be able to assist them in leveraging metal additive with our methodical, systematic approach, that meets the exacting requirements of the sector and their aggressive goal to grow the impact of additive within their application space.”
A Technologically Advanced Helping Hand
The AddWorks service has created a standardized but customizable process of integrating industrial additive manufacturing technologies and methodologies into a company. The first step is an analysis of the company’s manufacturing needs, after which a team is formed to facilitate the expansion. Engineers of the company then go through training in Design For Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) where they learn the ins and outs of optimizing designs for 3D printing, such as support structure placement and object orientation. The next step is advising on the setup of a facility, production workflows, and health and safety requirements. Finally, they help with certifying that the 3D printed parts meet the specific industry’s quality standards.
Oliver went on to say, “We’re very well-placed to accompany GA-ASI in accelerating their additive journey. We’re honored to secure this engagement and look forward to helping them drive successful outcomes and their competitive advantage.”
Smart Investments in Smart Tech
GE Additive has been dumping resources into 3D printing metal and industrial applications, launching the Additive Education Program and the Manufacturing Partner Network. These investments will pay dividends as companies continue to flock to GE for 3D printing services and technologies.