“The cost savings are generated by combining eight different part numbers into a design defined with one part number. Delivery can be reduced from months to weeks. Overall, the results are a better-quality part, improved rolled-throughput yield, less inventory, faster production, and a lower cost to produce.”

Honeywell’s redesigned tube for the HTF7000 turbofan engine. Courtesy Honeywell Aerospace. Bradshaw believes that for aerospace, the initial adoption driver is cost reduction using additive manufacturing to redo existing parts, as in the case of the Honeywell tube. In the medical-implant industry, the story is reversed: “They are designing for additive today,” he says.