Page 42 - 3DA Mag N° February2018 -EN+

CREA

X-plorer, the reactor with over 515 3D printed parts

The X-Plorer 1 is the first jet engine model of its kind to feature an integrated monitoring
system, providing crucial, real-time data on performance.

X-plorer is the result of a project developed by JetX, to be defined by the team. The team of engineering
a team of aerospace engineering students from the students used a high-bypass turbofan, the bypass
University of Glasgow whose goal is to revolutionize ratio of 5.0:1 precisely. The team explains that It was
aerospace education. This year, the X-plorer 1 has been an advisory limitation for the maximum core diameter
developed in collaboration with Rolls Royce which helped and was to facilitate practical manufacturing given
with the technical side of the project. the building capacity of their 3D printer. However, the
design team could exceed that if necessary.
The aim of the team of engineering students was to
create a very functional 3D printed jet engine model They constructed a theoretical model for the
that would provide instant design feedback on the one compressor, turbine and exhaust sections. Often
hand, on the other hand, enable engineering students these models assumed combustion taking place,
to be immersed in practical aspects of their training. later attempting to exclude this effect to predict the
behaviour of the prototype. Some of the specifications
Prototyping began in October 2016, following the of the X-Plorer 1 are:
completion of the testing phase which brought 150 parts
from design to reality. 3D printing was required for all the • Axial flow turbofan
necessary parts which took an estimated 1800 printing
hours and almost 3km of filament! • 5.0:1 bypass ratio
• Double-spool
• 26.15cm fan diameter

• 72cm total length

• 3 LPC stages, 5 HPC stages
Solidworks was used for all 3D models and to construct
the visual assemblies.
Electronics

The design of the electronics system and the core
design were done simultaneously since it was essential
that it fitted and worked around the rest of the machine.
Design Furthermore, it was simpler to do both at the same
time because of the modifications that needed to be
This part combined intensive theoretical and modelling done on other parts to accommodate electronics.
work. The engine’s thrust is one of the first elements

Magazine / February 2018