Do we know for a fact that they on using WS-13 on 2.0?
Do we know for a fact that they on using WS-13 on 2.0?
NO, as far as I know these are all rumours.
more of it:
The surface of the parts in the photo is 3d printed then milled. While I believe what they say, I am not sure why they are saying you can't CNC the same part. Maybe in other situations, but not the one they've shown. In other words the 3d printers will be additional investment and the parts still requires some existing machines to finish. Since they already have the traditional equipments, a 3d printing based production process contains hidden infrastructure investment.
The issue with a single process of 3d printing is still speed. Unlike in a civilian project you can't go fast because the density and consistency requirement. Yes if you have 100s printers in a large factory working on printing simultaneously it will amazing, that means 3d printing must be mainstream, not nice-to-have, to justify the additional large investment.
I suppose they could've just made a smaller investment for a small number of printers to complete the prototypes and verify the whole procedure in the process. The fact is FC-31 can't be made without 3d printed parts. It leads to the conclusion that without a major fund injection the current prototypes will be slow to make.
You're mistaken, Brat. Concord doesn't have canards so cannot deploy flaps for landing. J-20 has and uses them to balance its landing flaps., then dial up Concord, the nose section must be hinged in order for the flight crew to even see the runway on approach, that nose is pitched "WAY UP THERE!" in order to make enough lift to slow to a safe approach speed.
Perhaps, but a much more significant goal for the JF-17 program was to develop Pakistan's nascent aeronautical industry, the possibility of which hinged upon successful exports. China's refusal to induct the aircraft, despite earlier promises, and the generally-poor export record of the JF-17 failed to meet that goal.
Recall that the JF-17 program was 60% funded by Pakistani money and that SAC is also calling for R&D investment for its FC-31 program. If the Chinese essentially turned their backs on PAC Kamra after the latter had put down a good portion of its investment, why would they not feel any suspicion this time around?
The lack of a FC-31 export license could mean a few things:
(1) It is not going to be a worthwhile export that warrants potentially revealing key technologies to potential US allies.
(2) A few subsystems are reliant on foreign parts (hint: engines).
(3) The PLAAF/PLANAF is still in the process of evaluating the design.
(4) Further revisions are to be expected (unlikely this)
The reasons for the TF-X and FC-31 not being granted licenses are very, very different.
Firstly, CNC is only one tool in the whole traditional production method. We should not limit the discussion to CNC only. Secondly, 3d printing method is not against some traditional tools in the whole process, polishing for example.
What traditional method can not do is a structure like this |_\_/_|.
For traditional casting method to do it would need to break the mold. To break every mold for making everyone final product would be astronomically expensive. Without casting a bulk in a rough shape, you can not forge, and so on.
The only way for traditional method is to cast separate pieces, forge them, mill them, then weld them together, then mill the welding joints again. That is very time consuming and costly.
With 3d printing, you do only two steps. First, print one final piece in what ever shape, then polish the surface if necessary.
Besides 3d printing can make complicated shapes that traditional method can not do without huge cost and time, even something traditional method seemingly should be good at is better to be done by 3d printing.
For example, welding is very difficult to do to titanium alloy. F-22's bulkhead were cast/forged into three pieces then welded together. While forging is known to guarantee strength, welding does not. This creates two weak lines in the bulkhead. While F-31's bulkhead is printed in one piece. So long as the 3d printing method is reliable, there is no weak points or lines.
You're mistaken, Brat. Concord doesn't have canards so cannot deploy flaps for landing. J-20 has and uses them to balance its landing flaps.