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Windmill Blade Molds 3D Printed By National Labs (energy.gov)

Posted by yaelk on from the gone-with-the-wind dept.

MountainLogic writes: Last year ORNL produced a 3D printed Shelby. This year, the National Labs are using the mother of all 3D printers to make windmill molds cheaper and faster to produce in the US. The size of the current 150 foot utility scale blades are being extended with these techniques. US DOE is providing a leading role to advance US manufacturing technology and competitiveness. Welcome back rust belt, we missed you.

3 of 70 comments (clear)

  1. Link to TFA by sims+2 · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://energy.gov/eere/article...

    For mobile users till that gets fixed.

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  2. Re:Huh? by barc0001 · · Score: 3, Informative

    3D printed objects aren't the strongest due to the way the layers are laminated together. I imagine the last place you'd want a weak join is on a 150+ foot long blade swishing through the air. Better to make the mold and then form the actual blade in the mold.

  3. Re:Cheaper and Faster???? by buchner.johannes · · Score: 3, Informative

    Because you don't need a plug. Says TFA. Presumably that is a positive shape that has to be produced first out of which the mold is made. With 3d printing you can make the mold directly.

    I guess with CNC (subtractive manufacturing) you can only make a blade shape, but not its negative while with 3d printing (additive manufacturing) you can make either.

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    NB: The message above might reflect my opinion right now, but not necessarily tomorrow or next year.