3D printed inconel header

[hoffman900]

I toured SpaceX in LA 5+ years back as a guest. This is the same process they used to build their directional thrust nozzles. I was impressed with the print technology at the time but questioned the time/cost factor. They said that the provided flexibility for their limited production needs was a good fit. I think these things will only improve as time progresses.

+1

For specialty volumes that are far below the profit volume for a casting, it’s great.

Casting is scary, the volume needed to make a profit is scary and you better hope you sell that many before it becomes redundant. 3d printing helps fix that, and allows you the geometries (and even more freedom in ways) that only a casting can give you.

[Momus]

3D printing seems to me to be a woke technology

Casting is much more manly.

Rocket directional nozzles are/were usually made by fabricating Niobium (Columbium) sheet and machined sections.

No need to wait weeks.

[Ken_Parkman]

Another cost to think of is the amount of powder. Even if most is reclaimed, you had to buy it in the first place. And the amount and cost for a big part is scary. But for development hardware it is absolutely fantastic - fast and relatively cheap considering. But the machine on time is just too much for significant production to be cost effective, at least with the current technology.

[HDBD]

There are hybrid milling machines that add and remove material, it is possible to mix metals

[Momus]

There are hybrid milling machines that add and remove material, it is possible to mix metals

Link?

There is a machine that deposits and mills Inconel in a vacuum?