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Safran unveils Add+, leveraging 3D-printed components

Safran at the Paris Air Show introduced Add+, an engine technological demonstrator with 30 per cent of its components made using additive manufacturing – 3D-printing – techniques. The result of a partnership between several Safran companies, the company explains Add+ will enable 3D-printed parts to be used in Group production engines.

Development of the process started in early 2018, primarily at Safran’s facility in Bordes (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), and assembly is now in progress. The demonstrator will be ground-run next autumn.

“We started work on an existing engine model and redesigned almost 30 per cent of its components using additive manufacturing techniques, with a view to integrating those components into serial production units,” said Etienne Hesse, R&T project manager and Add+ program coordinator at Safran Helicopter Engines,” When we start ground runs, we will evaluate behavior of these new parts in operation.”

Based on an Arrius helicopter engine, Add+ evaluate major components made using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) techniques.