Fan Blades - Analysts Adding Value

I wrote a long postal service close fan blades the other day. In it I pointed out that fan blades on the front end of turbofan jet engines (the ones on commercial jets) are really difficult to make. They spin fast (providing most the thrust for the plane). And they receive got to bargain amongst aeroplane strikes (which are surprisingly common). And in conclusion they are non allowed to penetrate the engine casing if i were to wing off.

Fan blades receive got taken a surprising sum of textile scientific discipline to develop. They truly are "cutting edge" stuff.

I talked a flake close Alcoa supplying the fan blades on the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engine. Indeed I showed an Alcoa video of the project.





Well it turns out that these fan blades are the principal argue for the GTF engine beingness ho-hum to deliver.

The FT is running a story close how Pratt & Whitney are cutting engine production targets. It is non skilful tidings too they are blaming Alcoa.

Mr Hayes said front end fan blades were amid close 5 engine parts “that are causing us pain” yesteryear slowing deliveries. The companionship is continuing to gear upwards the engines, since fan blades larn on at the halt of assembly... 

The fan blade, developed amongst Alcoa, is made of aluminium-lithium alloy too tipped amongst titanium on the leading edge. Efforts to speed upwards blade manufacturing receive got taken longer than expected, leaving Pratt amongst fewer units than it expected yesteryear now, according to people familiar amongst the process. 

This year, nosotros talked close delivering close 200 engines,” Mr Hayes told investors. “As I stand upwards hither today, I intend that release is in all probability addition or minus 100 — to a greater extent than similar 150 engines for the total year...

I encourage reading the article.

That said an analyst on the United Technologies conference telephone telephone couldn't resist the adventure to larn far their query close 3D printing. 3D printing has uses - i is to brand really complicated parts. But it is non much piece of occupation inward making truly strong parts (like fan blades)* because at that topographic point is inward weaknesses where the production is added rather than made (say inward a cast/forge process) every bit a whole slice from inception. 

Enjoy the query too the none-to-subtle pose down:

Nigel Coe - Morgan Stanley - Analyst 

Obviously, GE is making a large play inward additive manufacturing. Why couldn't yous impress out these fan blades -- what -- easy, right? It's simple. What is your play is additive? Is that a potential for Pratt? 

Greg Hayes - United Technologies Corp. - Chairman, CEO 

It's a potential for Pratt. It's in all probability a bigger potential possibly fifty-fifty amongst -- at the Aerospace Systems business. If yous intend close where additive truly gives yous the advantage, intend close a fuel nub today, which is essentially a slice of aluminum or nickel that yous squealer out, yous pose all of these passages too cavities in, very, rattling hard to machine. Where nosotros run across the chance at that topographic point is through additive to move able to gear upwards these upwards 1/10,000 of a layer at a time, too gear upwards these cavities correct in.

John

*I simplify a lilliputian here. Additive manufacturing (aka 3D printing) is of dandy piece of occupation inward making the moulds for casting. You tin cheaply too easily impress rattling complicated designs which yous hence piece of occupation for making moulds. 3D printing has its house exactly nobody has all the same come upwards up amongst a means of truly printing the super-strong sort elements.