ABSTRACT

Additive manufacturing (AM) has been introduced in the aviation industry at a time in history of heightened scrutiny. Certification of products for commercial aviation use requires compliance to regulatory requirements outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 14 – Aeronautics and Space, Chapter I – Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, Subchapter C – Aircraft. Regulators are increasingly aware of machine calibration issues, especially for the newer multi-laser machines. The industry is currently maturing processes to verify the equipment readiness for each production build, which generally entails a verification of delivered laser power. As the industry progresses into serial production, new approaches are needed to accelerate the certification and qualification of AM components. There are very high barriers in terms of requirements and supporting process standards that must be demonstrated to ensure safety of passengers and aircraft operators.