3-D printing can help save money, the environment

Washington, June 3: By manufacturing aircrafts metal parts with 3-D printing, airlines could save a significant amount of fuel, materials and other resources, a new study says. Aircraft industry data was used to complete a case study of the life-cycle environmental effects of using 3-D printing for select metal aircraft parts, a technique that is already being adopted by the industry. 3-D printing the lighter and higher performance parts could significantly reduce both manufacturing waste and the weight of the airplane, thus saving fuel, money and decreasing carbon emissions.  (IANS)