Jet Engine Bracket Open Innovation Contest Finalists Announced
GE (General Electric) has revealed the top ten finalists for its open innovation Jet Engine Bracket Design Quest. The challenge invited individuals, institutions and companies to come up with a new design for loading brackets found on jet engines using 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing).
The brackets are needed to support the engines during handling and stay on the engine all the time. They must be strong and durable.
The open innovation quest is seeking designs which will reduce the bracket weight but also improve its strength and performance.
3D printing has caught the attention of the aerospace industry for its potential to manufacture parts that can be optimized for weight and performance. It frees engineers and designers from some of the constraints of traditional manufacturing processes as virtually any shape can be made from a digital model.
Ideas from Around the World
Nearly 700 design entries were submitted representing 56 countries. The finalists include:
• A university student from Hungary
• A stress engineer from the UK
• A rapid prototyping systems specialist from Poland
• A co-founder of an engineering company from Indonesia
Each finalist will receive $1,000 and move into the quest’s next phase where their design solutions will be additively manufactured and load tested.
“We have entered into a new era of manufacturing that is leveraging the proven power of open innovation,” said Mark Little, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, GE Global Research Center.
“Additive manufacturing is allowing GE, together with the Maker community, to push the boundaries of traditional engineering. These finalists have demonstrated what can be achieved by embracing this more open, collaborative model.”
More information about the Open Innovation Jet Engine Bracket Design Quest can be found here.
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