TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A University of Kansas professor has used 3-D printers to design an engine for a Topeka museum's replica of a World War I fighter plane.
The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/1QwWd3M ) reports that Huw Thomas, an associate professor of industrial design at the university, took on the project in November after the Topeka Combat Air Museum acquired an 80 percent replica of a De Havilland 2 World War I fighter plane about a year ago.
Thomas used two LulzBot TAZ 5 3-D printers at the university to create dozens of parts, large and small.
"It took about 400 hours to print the engine," he said, noting each of the engine's nine cylinders is made in two halves, each taking about 14 hours to print. "It probably took about 60 hours to design the computer model."
Because it took so long to print off the pieces, Thomas bought the same style of 3-D printer for himself and did most of the printing from his home.
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The three 3-D printers made the parts with the same material as Lego bricks. Thomas used a substance similar to super glue to attach the pieces together.
Thomas didn't charge the museum for his work, but he will be compensated for materials.
The 3-D replica rotary engine was placed onto the back of the aircraft Wednesday. It weighs a few pounds and was about 3 feet across and 14 inches wide.
Visitors will get to see the engine when the replica plane is lifted to its place among other aircraft suspended from the rafters of the museum's main hangar at the Topeka Regional Airport.
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Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com
