从6个月在美国陆军的即兴表演ed Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), GE Aviation’s T901 Turboshaft engine has successfully completed prototype testing. The engine has been made using a range of additively manufactured parts, and is now ready to enter the next phase of development.
罗恩·哈特（Ron Hutter），，，，executive director of the T901 program, comments, “We’re thrilled with the overwhelmingly successful results […] Beyond the advanced design and hardware, the T901 features the latest diagnostic and prognostic tools with a modular architecture that provides the Army with the flexibility to improve readiness at the lowest life cycle costs.”
无代替测试
In 2016, the Army granted GE Aviation $102 million to develop a T901 preliminary design review (PDR) based on engines that have been in the GE helicopter roster for over 40 years. The project’s goals, due to be fulfilled 24 months from the start of the funding, are to give Black Hawk and Apache helicopters 50% more power, with 25% better fuel consumption, and lower production costs.
在这项测试之前，GE向T901特定技术的开发投资了超过3亿美元。这包括金属3D打印的主要作用GE’s LEAP engine，，，，GE9X，，，，andthe advanced turboprop (ATP) engine for the Cessna Denali business jet.
关于PDR T901，Hutter解释说：“在与军队的ITEP PDR之前验证我们的分析模型，至关重要的是要证明T901原型引擎配备了最新，最出色的商业和军事技术，将满足ITEP性能的需求 -没有代替测试。”
加性优势
直升机性能挑战主要与部分重量和整合有关，使其成为T901发动机的明显解决方案。Hutter解释说：“通过传统的加工和制造方法，将各个零件加工成铸件或疑问的成品零件，并使用焊接/烤或螺栓接头内置在组件中，”
“在T901上，添加剂制造可雷电竞充值通过最大程度地减少组件中的附着特征来减少重量。添加剂还允许更先进的空气动力学形状，从而为军队提供更好的发动机性能，可靠性和耐用性。”
雷电竞充值增材制造已成为军事防御最新发展的关键组成部分。成为新闻的第一个，注册我们的免费新闻通讯，，，，在推特上关注我们andlike us on Facebook.在您的职业生涯中迈出新的方向register on our 3D printing jobs site here.
Featured image shows GE Aviation’s T901 Turboshaft engine for use inside the U.S. Army’s Apache and Black Hawk helicopters. Image via GE Aviation
