Piper has produced its first production part using additive manufacturing—more commonly known as 3D printing—according to a company announcement last week. The part, a climate control system component, was printed using an HP Multi Jet Fusion 4200 3D printer. Piper says it is currently focusing on creating and testing non-flight-critical components with the goal of achieving FAA approval and expanding the use of 3D printing in aircraft manufacturing.
It may be a typo, but a capability of good additive manufacturing design allows for printing complex shapes the may allow several individual components (constrained by limitations of traditional manufacturing means and also requiring assembly) to be manufactured as a single complex piece.
This is very sad news. It seems to be yet another illustration of how “General Aviation” has stagnated; being the very last industry to adopt this technology.
I don’t think anybody is giving the FAA enough credit here… By the time Piper gets PMA approval, the big 200 percent discount will be a 200 percent increase. A $25 3D printed air vent will cost $250 once the FAA runs it through their friendlier streamline certification process. But hey, at least it will be “safe”.