Applications of 3D Printing in Aerospace Industry – A Critical Review of Benefits and Challenges

Abstract

Over the years, the adoption of AM or 3D Printing within the aerospace industry has been consistent owing to its ability to overcome the limitations of conventional manufacturing methods. However, there exist challenges that hinder and limit the adoption of AM or 3D Printing in the aerospace industry. This calls for a comprehensive review of the benefits and challenges associated with the application of 3D Printing in the context of the aerospace industry. This paper aims to undertake a comprehensive review of the benefits and challenges of 3D Printing within the aerospace industry. In doing so, the current paper adopted a targeted literature review of the freely available articles published on the subject of interest between the period from 2018 to 2023. Based on the observations obtained from the review of the included results, the current paper concluded that 3D Printing is widely recognised for its transformation potential owing to overcoming the challenges associated with conventional manufacturing methods. However, there exists a set of benefits and limitations that must be taken into consideration through in-depth research on materials and processes.