Erin is now asking you What is the fewest number of AM machines that VFPC will need to purchase such that all the replacement brackets for the aircraft fleet can be manufactured in 6 months. (11) Estimate the total cost of producing the brackets for the entire global VFPC fleet given the following: [8 Marks] You use the most suitable L-PBF machine for this application and a machine configuration which minimises build time. You learn that the company SLM Solutions GmbH offers reliable SLM equipment.

A layer thickness of 60 m The maximum number of parts that can fit on the build plate (with no stacking or overlap) The laser scanning time is 58 seconds and has one laser The powder recoating time for each layer is 12 seconds Machine operates at a duty rate of 68% of the full 365 day year L-PBF machine hourly run time cost is $67.50.

60 planes in the whole fleet

Height of build = 79.21

12 brackets per aircraft