search query: @supervisor Holmström, Jan / total: 49
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| Author: | Deng, Gege |
| Title: | The potential impacts of titanium powder commoditisation on the economics of Additive Manufacturing |
| Publication type: | Master's thesis |
| Publication year: | 2016 |
| Pages: | (7) + 80 s. + liitt. 12 Language: eng |
| Department/School: | Perustieteiden korkeakoulu |
| Main subject: | Service Management and Engineering (IL3007) |
| Supervisor: | Holmström, Jan |
| Instructor: | Khajavi, Siavash |
| Electronic version URL: | http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-201604201840 |
| Location: | P1 Ark Aalto 3649 | Archive |
| Keywords: | additive manufacturing conventional manufacturing methods metalysis process cost analysis Ti6Al4V |
| Abstract (eng): | As part of the digital manufacturing technology, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has re-ceived the special attention in fabricating titanium component in a cost-efficient fashion. However, it has been recognised that there are many issues have influenced the growth of titanium AM deployment, among which the high cost and the low availability of AM qualified titanium powder are the critical issues. Nevertheless, a novel titanium powder extraction method, the Metalysis process, promises to offer the current market signifi-cantly cheaper and more accessible titanium in its powder form. Such recent event of the titanium powder commoditisation underlines the importance of investigating the future of titanium AM. This thesis analyses the future of AM from the perspective of AM economics, which is demonstrated from the manufacturing costs and the value-added applications com-pared with the conventional manufacturing (CM) methods, namely, investment casting and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. Apparently, the titanium powder commoditisation resulted from Metalysis process has attracted both the interest of AM manufacturers and that of traditional manufacturers. However, titanium powder re-quires an additional powder solidification process before it can be utilised in some CM methods. Consequently, the extra steps might increase the overall production time and expense, thus weakening the attractiveness of cheap Metalysis titanium powder. Thus, this research investigates the competitiveness of AM economics by taking into account of both the benefits and the disadvantages that Metaysis titanium powder could bring onto CM methods. Based on the Scenario Modelling analysis of a multi-case study of Ti6Al4V Low-pressure turbine blade (LPB) and Jet engine loading bracket (ELB), utilising 75% cheaper Metalysis titanium powder generates a significant enhancement in the economics of AM (LPB cost is reduced by 26,9% via AM, and ELB cost is reduced by 39,7% via AM). Moreover, utilising titanium in its powder form more clearly influences the economics of AM when compared with CNC machining, than compared with investment casting (maximum production Break-Even Quantity [BEQ] increased by 35,9% compared with investment casting, whereas by 66,7% when compared with CNC machining). By synthesising the value-added applications and advantages of deploying AM technology, AM has then proven to be a convenient economical alternative to CM. From a broad perspective, this thesis suggests that the metallic properties of raw material as well as its supply chain configuration are essential enabling factors for AM to be a conveniently economical manufacturing alternative to CM methods. |
| ED: | 2016-05-01 |
INSSI record number: 53474
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