Indian state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has partnered with Intech Additive Solutions to produce the country’s first metal AM component for jet engines.
The part in question is a Gas Generator – Nozzle Guide Vane (GG-NGV) and it has been printed in CM 247LC superalloy. This alloy in question is a nickel-based alloy used largely for turbine blades and vanes, due to its superior fatigue resistance, heat resistance, and strength. In the past, components manufactured with this alloy have been done so by use of investment casting processes.
As we have discussed in previous articles, investment casting is a labour intensive process and use of AM can drastically reduce the process steps needed for forming parts. And this is exactly what the team at HAL and Intech have achieved, as you can see in the image below.