Applied Research on utilizing 3D Scanning and 3D Printing Technologies to Optimize AircraftMaintenance and Repair

KF航空航天公司是加拿大最大的飞机维护和维修服务商业供应商，专门为全球企业、商业和军事客户提供创新航空服务。近50年前，KF在不列颠哥伦比亚省的奥肯那根山谷成立，现已发展成为拥有1,100多名高技能员工的加拿大各地工厂。由于客户对飞机维护和维修的需求迅速增长，KF航空航天公司正在寻求奥肯那根学院（OC）的帮助，利用最先进的3D扫描仪和打印机研究、开发和测试一种新的原型工艺，以更快地使飞机恢复服务。在这个项目中进行的应用研究将包括开发和测试一个原型过程，以确定其可行性和实际应用潜力，以增加KF航空航天公司的飞机维护和维修能力。这将涉及使用3D扫描仪扫描需要更换的飞机部件或部分，这将产生一个虚拟的基于计算机的3D模型。一旦组件或部件的扫描完成，数据点被电子转换到计算机辅助设计（CAD）建模软件进行额外的测量，编辑和操作。一旦设计完成，它将被电子转换到大型3D打印机上。该设备将使用塑料材料打印组件或部件的模具。然后，模具将用于制造真正的飞机部件或部件，这些部件或部件需要根据特定应用使用金属或其他类型的材料进行替换。KF航空航天公司在飞机工程、维护和维修方面拥有丰富的专业知识和经验，因此在参与这项应用研究项目方面处于有利地位。该公司将受益于增加的能力，以支持不断增长的飞机维护和维修需求，降低成本和减少飞机恢复服务所需的时间。OC将受益于联合应用研究的进步，这将支持航空航天技术系提供的项目，并为学生和教师创造创新的学习和教学机会。

KF Aerospace is Canada's largest commercial provider of aircraft maintenance and repair services, specializing in innovative aviation services for corporate, commercial and military customers worldwide. Launched nearly 50 years ago out of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, KF has grown to employ a highly skilled workforce of more than 1,100 people in facilities across Canada. Due to rapidly growing client demand for aircraft maintenance and repair, KF Aerospace is seeking assistance from Okanagan College (OC) to research, develop and test a new prototype process using state-of-the-art 3D scanners and printers that will return aircraft to service more quickly. The applied research to be conducted in this project will involve the development and testing of a prototype process to determine its feasibility and practical application potential for increasing aircraft maintenance and repair capabilities for KF Aerospace. This will involve use of a 3D scanner to scan aircraft components or sections in need of replacement, which will generate a virtual 3D computer-based model. Once the scan of a component or part is completed, the data points are electronically transposed to computer-aided design (CAD) modeling software for additional measurement, editing and manipulation. Once the design is finalized, it will be electronically translated to a large-scale 3D printer. The device will print a mold of the component or part using plastic material. The mold will then be used to manufacture the real aircraft component or part that needs to be replaced using metal or another type of material as needed for the particular application. KF Aerospace is well positioned to participate in this applied research project given its considerable expertise and experience in aircraft engineering, maintenance and repair. The company will benefit from increased capacity to support growing aircraft maintenance and repair needs, reduced costs and a decrease in the time needed to return aircraft to service. OC will benefit through advancement of joint applied research that will support programs offered in the Aerospace Technology department, and create innovative learning and teaching opportunities for students and faculty.