XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics, sci.electronics.design   
      
   In sci.physics Jeff Findley  wrote:   
   > In article , jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com   
   > says...   
   >> > Also, the other option that 3D printing opens up is more shape optimized   
   >> > parts.  These things are optimized so that "useless" mass is simply gone   
   >> > from the design.  They tend to look "organic" rather than "machined" due   
   >> > to their complex shapes.  I've heard this called "light-weighting" parts   
   >> > from management types.   
   >>   
   >> And about the only place where weight matters that much is in things   
   >> that fly and in that case useless mass is already gone from the design   
   >> without the expense of 3D printing.   
   >   
   > True, the big dumb cylindrical pressure vessel may not apply but, that's   
   > not the entire aircraft.   
   >   
   > If the "mass were already gone from the design" then GE would not be   
   > pouring literally millions of dollars into developing a one meter cubed   
   > 3D printer presumably for printing aircraft engine parts.   
   >   
   > Landing gear, and all other structural moving parts, is surely another   
   > area on aircraft which could use this technology.  Landing gear make up   
   > a significant percentage of an aircraft's total dry mass, so this would   
   > be a likely candidate for shape optimization and 3D printing.   
      
   Again, you are talking about niche applications and landing gear are not   
   that big a part of an aircrafts weight.   
      
   >> Have you ever looked at the interior structures of an aircraft?   
   >   
   > Yes, many times.  I've got a b.s. in aerospace engineering, so I know   
   > the basics.  Many of our customers are aerospace, so I have to   
   > understand the domain.   
   >   
   >> 3D printing is, and always will be, a niche manufacturing method.   
   >>   
   >> Handy at times, but certainly not a world changer.   
   >   
   > This is quite short sighted.  I'm sure the same was said about   
   > composites when they were in their infancy.  Today it would be quite   
   > hard (i.e. likely impossible) to point to something commercial that   
   > flies and carries people commercially that has absolutely zero composite   
   > content.   
      
   An irrelevant red herring to the subject of 3D printing. There are a HUGE   
   number of different composite materials out there and it has taken well   
   over half a century for most aircraft to have even a small fraction of   
   composite materials in their construction.   
      
   Note the word "most".   
      
   > I can say that shape optimization coupled with 3D printing is one of the   
   > "bleeding edge" topics in my industry.  It's really no secret, you can   
   > surely Google hundreds of articles on the topic.  I really can't go into   
   > further details, but my profession is in writing engineering software,   
   > so I ought to know.   
      
   Whoopee. It is still niche.   
      
   Does anyone care about a shape optimized 4 slice toaster or filing cabinet?   
      
      
   > Jeff   
      
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   Jim Pennino   
      
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