Impact of Post-Processing Technologies in Additive Manufacturing for Aerospace Applications – A Review

Modern aircraft engine components with thin-walled structures and complex shapes pose enough difficulties in the processing of materials which compel the aerospace industry to adopt the use of layered Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology. The aerospace industry is looking toward more durable, smaller, and lightweight components. However, AM technology suffers certain obstacles in the mass production of aircraft components due to critical issues such as part anisotropy, poor mechanical properties, and inadequate surface quality. Therefore, various surface modification and post-processing methods have been proposed to improve the surface characteristics of AM-manufactured parts. In this review, we have overviewed the historical developments, various post-fabrication methods, and applications concerning different metal AM processes. Several kinds of AM and their comparison for aerospace applications, their post-processing technologies, and their integration with AM processes are discussed in this review towards the possibility of future advancement in this field.