Implementation of RE in the 6R Strategy in Considering the Sustainable Development of Parts for the Aviation Industry Using Additive Technologies

Abstract

The 6R strategy plays an essential role in the sustainable development of the aviation industry, which is reflected in the application of new materials and new technologies. Additive technologies enabled rapid prototyping production and modified components as a quick response to market turbulence. The aim is to show the primacy of additive technologies concerning conventional manufacturing methods. This paper will define the reverse engineering (RE) implementation algorithm in the 6R strategy. The emphasis here is on using non-metallic materials: polymers, composites and other materials. Mentioned materials are gaining an increasing role in those places where the geometry of parts is complex. By definition, the 6R strategy includes reduction of waste material (Reduction); reuse of waste material (Reuse); waste collection (Recycling); regeneration of raw materials and energy from waste material (Recovery), redesign of a product or a complete business process (Redesign) and reproduction that includes disassembly, cleaning, measurement and testing of parts (Remanufacturing). Applying RE makes it possible to design a new spare part based on the existing fundamental machine part. The RE procedure is realized from creating a digital 3D model, through the permanent improvement and optimization of model parameters, to the production of the finished part using additive technologies.