3D printing

Last year we purchased our first 3D printer (the 88th machine of the production line). As an early adopter, we had some issues but the 3D printing community is collaborative one and prior to the purchase of the second machine we felt confident in the technology at an 'industrial' scale.
The machines work tirelessly for us and they are not often idle. To date the biggest print we have completed is a 1.5m long asymmetric turbine blade that will be used to create a high temperature mould from which we will make the carbon fibre composite blades.
With experimentation we have found ways to make patterns, high temperature moulds and prototype components using these machines. They have become an invaluable tool and I see us purchasing more and larger machines in the future.