GKN Aerospace, a Tier 1 supplier of major civil, aerospace, and military programs, has recently integrated AM Explorer software into its additive manufacturing (AM) workflow. The software will be used at its Center of Excellence in Trollhättan, Sweden.
Designed to provide 3D visualization and AI-driven analysis for metal AM, AM Explorer helps enhance quality assurance, process monitoring, and operational efficiency in AM workflows.
Discover more in this video interview.
“Currently, aircraft engine components rely on large castings and forgings, with up to 80% of the material machined away before reaching the final form. By employing additive technology, which involves layer-by-layer construction using metal wire or powder fused together with lasers, GKN Aerospace can minimize raw material waste, energy within production. This significantly cuts emissions, costs, and lead time,” Martin Thordén, GKN Aerospace, explains.
GKN Aerospace is finding alternatives to the traditional manufacturing processes to improve performance of the engines and address industry wide challenges with high costs, long lead times, and supply chain vulnerabilities that have driven a shift towards more sustainable manufacturing options- additive manufacturing (AM). By leveraging AM Explorer, GKN Aerospace not only addresses these challenges but also reduces waste, lowers carbon emissions, and optimizes resource usage, all while maintaining consistent quality and regulatory compliance.
GKN Aerospace began working with AM Explorer early 2024 and are now ramping up the use to enhance its production capabilities. GKN Aerospace and Interspectral are working closely together to develop new AI-powered anomaly detection functionality optimized for the specific materials, applications and large-scale printers used.
A deep integration with Nikon SLM machines
Through a deep integration with Nikon SLM machines – Nikon SLM NXG XII 600 metal 3D printers in particular- AM Explorer provides comprehensive monitoring and analysis, ensuring defect-free builds and optimized manufacturing workflows.
The technical integration of AM Explorer with the NXG XII 600 enables faster production cycles, improved process stability, and resource optimization.
The data is also automatically processed using an AI model specifically trained on high-resolution NXG images, enabling defect detection and process insights. AM Explorer then makes it possible for users to explore and analyze the data using AM Explorer’s visualization tools and generate a build report—all in a seamless workflow.
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