Direct laser interference patterning can create complex surface micro-structures to decrease ice accumulation on aircraft surfaces. (Image: Fraunhofer IWS).
A number of ongoing European research projects are using laser technology to structure and clean the surfaces of ships and aircraft in order to improve their fuel efficiency
In the Fraunhofer project 'FutureAM – Next Generation Additive Manufacturing,' six Fraunhofer institutes are collaborating to accelerate the processing speed of additive manufacturing with metal powder by a factor of ten.
At Formnext this year, between 19-22 November in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the institutes will present initial results that prove that this accelaration in processing speed will indeed be possible.
The Fraunhofer focus project, FutureAM, which over the next three years aims to establish the prerequisites for advances in metal additive manufacturing (AM), was launched in November by Fraunhofer ILT
