International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Special Issue on
“Advanced Aircraft Manufacturing and Maintenance Using Three-dimensional Printing”

Aim
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a process that uses computer-aided design (CAD) data to achieve the continuous layered deposition of different shapes to produce 3D objects. Consequently, 3D-printed objects can have any geometric shapes and features. 3D printing has been applied in numerous industries in which the traditional manufacturing processes are relatively complex, have long cycle times, and are difficult to maintain precision. The applications of 3D printing technologies have overcome these problems to reduce the manufacturing costs and shorten cycle times.
This special issue is focused on the application of 3D printing to the aircraft industry. The applications of 3D printing in the aircraft industry differ from those in other industries in the following aspects: oligopoly, project-based production, long cycle times, and the pursuit of lighter products. Nevertheless, to date, 3D printing, as a green production technology, has benefitted the aircraft industry with shortened cycle times, reduced production costs, and lighter component weights. In particular, the lightweight of airplanes reduces the fuel consumption and in turn elevates profitability. In addition, the aviation market demands that spare parts be delivered rapidly. By 3D printing spare parts domestically, the need for transporting spare parts to meet the local demand is eliminated, thereby the cycle time can be dramatically shortened. However, the following concerns must still be addressed:
(1) The aircraft industry is a high-tech industry. Many countries or regions require but lack the capability to manufacture, maintain, or repair aircraft parts on their own; 3D printing provides an opportunity for these countries or regions to gain this capability at low cost in a short time. To such countries or regions, an introduction of the current practice of applying 3D printing to the aircraft industry is required.
(2) The application of 3D printing in the aircraft industry is ongoing. Some efforts should be made to clarify which related topics are more critical, feasible, or useful.
(3) Rapid advances in 3D printing technologies have been observed in the recent years. As a result, the previous reviews on similar topics may become out-of-date.
This special issue is an attempt to address these concerns. It is intended to provide technical details of applying advanced 3D printing technologies to aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, including the current practices, challenges faced, and opportunities that can enhance the effectiveness of the existing applications. These details will hold great interest for researchers in advanced manufacturing, aviation engineering, mechanical engineering, CAD/CAM/CAE, sustainability, technology management, as well as for practicing managers and engineers. This special issue features a balance between state-of-the-art research and practical applications. This special issue also provides a forum for researchers and practitioners to review and disseminate quality research work on advanced 3D printing applications to aircraft manufacturing and maintenance and the critical issues for further development.

Topics
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- 3D printing applications to testing functional spare parts
- 3D printing applications to generating prototypes
- 3D printing applications to evaluating the machinability of molds
- 3D printing applications to making molding models
- 3D printing applications to mimicking natural structures in making aircraft parts
- 3D printing applications to optimizing the design of structure
- 3D printing applications to making spare parts for aircraft maintenance
- 3D printing applications to making an entire drone or unmanned aerial vehicle
- 3D printing applications to creating a global supply chain of spare parts
- 3D printing applications to monitoring the structural conditions of aircrafts
- 3D printing applications to the lightweight of airplanes
- How to 3D print an entire airplane?
- How to protect intellectual property rights?
- New measures for evaluating maintenance and repair performance
- New methods for making airplanes
- New materials for making airplanes
- Potential for new airplane designs
- Globalization and deglobalization
- Lowering the entry threshold for the aircraft maintenance market
- Inspection and testing applications for 3D printed aircraft parts
- Battlefield applications.
- Other related topics

Target Dates (Tentative)
Submission Deadline: August 31, 2018
Notification of the Initial Decision: November 30, 2018
Notification of Acceptance: February 28, 2019
Final Paper Due: April 30, 2019

Submission Guidelines
Quality and originality of the contribution are the main acceptance criteria. Manuscripts must be submitted via the online submission system:
http://jamt.edmgr.com/
For journal information and author guidelines, please visit
http://www.springer.com/engineering/industrial+management/journal/170

Guest Editors
Toly Chen, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Industrial Engineering and Management
National Chiao Tung University
1001, University Rd., Hsinchu City, Taiwan
tolychen@ms37.hinet.net; tcchen@g2.nctu.edu.tw
http://tolychen.myweb.hinet.net

Seung-Kyum Choi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
USA
schoi@me.gatech.edu

Seung Ki Moon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Singapore Centre for 3D Printing
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore
skmoon@ntu.edu.sg
N3.2-02-24
http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/skmoon/

Yu-Cheng Wang, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Aviation Mechanical Engineering
China University of Science and Technology
No. 200, Zhonghua St., Hengshan Township, Hsinchu County 312, Taiwan
tony.cobra@msa.hinet.net