The American Bureau of Transport (ABS) is taking vital strides in advancing additive manufacturing (AM) throughout the maritime sector. Amidst growing curiosity and the necessity for modernization, ABS has been actively creating new qualification frameworks, partnerships, and pioneering initiatives to convey AM options into sensible purposes. In a dialog with 3DPrint.com, Dr. Wu Wenjin, Principal Engineer of Know-how at ABS, mentioned the corporate’s ongoing efforts to boost the adoption and commercialization of AM in shipbuilding, offshore industries, and digital provide chains.
Landmark AM undertaking. Picture courtesy of ABS.
Bridging the Hole in Maritime Additive Manufacturing
Regardless of widespread recognition of 3D printing’s potential within the maritime {industry}, industrial use circumstances stay underdeveloped. In keeping with Dr. Wu, whereas the technical feasibility of AM has been acknowledged, the problem lies in demonstrating impactful initiatives that showcase its full potential. ABS is addressing these gaps by collaborating with {industry} leaders to qualify and certify AM elements, streamline regulatory frameworks, and push for the inclusion of important, classed elements in real-world maritime operations.
Dr. Wenjin Wu. Picture courtesy of Wenjin Wu by way of LinkedIn.
Dr. Wu defined, “Lately, now we have been focusing lots on figuring out the gaps in maritime AM. From our conversations with shoppers, one of many largest takeaways is that AM is clearly helpful, however the industrial use circumstances nonetheless should be developed additional. Technically, most of what we need to do is possible, however the problem is getting impactful initiatives that actually transfer the needle. Most of the use circumstances we see within the {industry} at the moment are non-critical elements, and that’s a serious hole we’re working to handle.”
One in all ABS’s main collaborations entails Mencast, a Singapore-based manufacturing agency, to develop a production-ready 3D-printed propeller. In contrast to earlier prototypes that by no means transitioned to industrial use, this undertaking goals to display a cheap fabrication technique for classed, safety-critical ship elements.
“Printing a propeller isn’t new,” says Dr. Wu. “However prior to now, the entire printed propellers have been prototypes—none have ever made it into industrial use. What we’re doing with Mencast is completely different. They’ve developed a novel fabrication technique that optimizes value effectivity, and collectively, we’re working to create a propeller that’s really production-ready. If we succeed, this may ship a really robust message to the {industry} that 3D printing is not only for small, non-critical elements, however for core, classed elements as properly.”
Rushing up Qualification
To date, ABS has already performed a important position in creating requirements for maritime AM. This contains the ABS Necessities for Additive Manufacturing, which outlines requirements for AM design, feedstock materials, constructing processes, and inspection and testing. It covers the qualification and certification course of for AM services and elements, specializing in materials extrusion, powder mattress fusion and directed vitality deposition applied sciences. Moreover, ABS has launched an advisory that particulars the technical challenges of AM, its trade-offs, and high quality concerns.
Extra just lately, ABS has begun taking that to the subsequent degree utilizing automation. The group is exploring fast verification methods that leverage in-situ monitoring and modelling throughout printing to attenuate expensive and time-consuming post-production testing.
“We imagine there lies a chance to leverage enhanced qualification methods as an enabler to spice up AM adoption, ” Dr. Wu notes. “Proper now, most elements nonetheless require in depth bodily testing, together with a number of take a look at coupons, and that drives up prices and delays manufacturing. If we wish AM to really ship on its promise of on-demand manufacturing, we have to discover methods to hurry up qualification with out compromising security. That’s why we’re exploring fast verification strategies that use real-time course of knowledge to validate half integrity. We already noticed very optimistic leads to our pilot initiatives, and now we’re working to refine the methodology and set up industry-wide frameworks.”
3D Printing on Land and at Sea
In partnership with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), ABS is taking part in a pivotal position within the improvement of onboard 3D printing capabilities. The newly unveiled “3D Printing Digital Workshop” goals to supply vessels with an in-house manufacturing answer to provide important spare elements at sea. This initiative not solely reduces lead instances and prices but additionally enhances operational resilience for the worldwide delivery {industry}. Nevertheless, onboard AM presents distinctive challenges, together with motion-induced instability, qualification complexities, and integration with present regulatory frameworks—challenges that ABS is actively addressing via rigorous testing and certification processes.
“Bringing AM onboard ships is a game-changer, but it surely’s not so simple as simply putting in a printer,” says Dr. Wu. “There are a lot of challenges to think about—how do you keep print high quality when the ship is transferring? How do you qualify elements which are produced in a non-traditional surroundings? HD Hyundai has been very forward-thinking about this, and we’re working carefully with them to develop options that make onboard AM commercially viable.”
Past particular person elements, ABS can be collaborating within the areas of digital warehousing to facilitate on-demand half manufacturing. A key partnership with Pelagus 3D, a three way partnership between Wilhelmsen and ThyssenKrupp, focuses on streamlining the certification and approval processes for AM spare elements. By integrating ABS testing necessities into Pelagus 3D’s digital stock platform, the collaboration goals to speed up the adoption of AM throughout the marine and offshore industries.
Dr. Wu elaborated on the significance of digital warehousing: “Proper now, one of many largest ache factors in maritime is spare elements logistics. Storing elements is dear, and delays in sourcing the correct element can result in expensive downtime. Digital warehousing is an ideal answer for this. As a substitute of retaining bodily inventories, firms can keep a library of digital AM elements and print them as wanted, whether or not onboard a ship or at a close-by facility. Our work with Pelagus 3D is targeted on guaranteeing that the required certification and high quality assurance processes are in place in order that firms can absolutely leverage this expertise.”
(Left to Proper) Dr. Michalis Benakis, Senior Scientist at A*STAR’s SIMTech; Liang Xinying, Supervisor at Mencast; Glenndle Sim, CEO of Mencast Group; Dr. Chia Boon Tat, Head of R&D of Mencast Innovation Centre; Dr. Wu Wenjin, ABS Principal Engineer; and Angie Ng, ABS Principal Engineer, discover fast verification and validation of AM elements. Picture courtesy of ABS.
A Extra Resilient and Environment friendly Future
As a part of its broader mission, ABS is actively contributing to analysis and coverage developments that may form the way forward for AM in maritime purposes. Ongoing initiatives in collaboration with {industry} stakeholders, regulatory our bodies, and analysis establishments will proceed to drive innovation and adoption.
By means of these initiatives, ABS is positioning itself as a frontrunner in maritime AM certification, enabling the appliance of 3D printing applied sciences to satisfy {industry} requirements and redefine how the maritime sector approaches manufacturing, upkeep, and provide chain administration.
“The maritime {industry} is historically gradual to undertake new applied sciences,” Dr. Wu acknowledged. “However we’re reaching a tipping level. With the correct frameworks in place, AM can essentially change how ships are constructed and maintained. Our aim at ABS is to facilitate a clean and secure transition, and for the {industry} to totally capitalize on the advantages of AM.”
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