Applications Across Engines, Airframes, MRO, and Spacecraft
In engines, AM enables: (1) fuel‑nozzle geometries that improve mixing and durability; (2) integrated heat exchangers and combustor components with conformal cooling; (3) lightweighting of stators, frames, and mounts; and (4) rapid prototyping of turbine hot‑section trials. Titanium and nickel alloys dominate, with part consolidation cutting welds and fasteners while improving reliability. In airframes, AM contributes brackets, clips, ECS ducting, seat structures, avionics trays, and secondary mounts—often yielding double‑digit weight savings.
For MRO, the Aerospace Additive Manufacturing Market Outlook supports obsolescence management and spares: low‑volume, high‑mix parts printed on demand near the point of use. DED repairs rebuild worn turbine blade tips or bearing seats, extending life and reducing turnaround time. Certification pathways for repairs are distinct but increasingly mature as process repeatability and inspection improve.
Space is a growth hotspot. Launch vehicles use LPBF and DED for engine injectors, turbopump housings, impellers,…