Assessment of As-Printed, Machined, and Post Processed Additive Layer Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V for Aerospace Applications

Author:  Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies
Source:  The Shot Peener magazine, Vol 32, Issue 3, Summer 2018
Doc ID:  2018033
Year of Publication:  2018
Abstract:  
THANK YOU to Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies (CWST) for sharing a recent research project on Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) and shot peening. Additive manufacturing is an important topic in our industry, especially for aerospace applications. The project was initiated by the helicopter division of the Leonardo company in the United Kingdom. Leonardo manages the design, development, testing, production, support and sales of the complete range of rotary aircraft available for commercial, public utility, security and defense use. Leonardo has used the services of the CWST facility in the U.K. for many years. ALM is being successfully used to build metallic components under static loads; CWST and Leonardo explored the fatigue strength of ALM components under cyclic loads. The Ti-6Al-4V fatigue test specimens were either additive layer manufactured to the defined dimensions or were machined down to the dimensions from additive layer manufactured cylinders. The components were divided into five batches: As Machined; As Printed; As Printed and Shot Peened; As Printed, Shot Peened and/or Superfinished; and As Printed and Superfinished.