{"id":69361,"date":"2026-03-09T00:01:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T23:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/?p=69361"},"modified":"2026-03-04T11:09:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T10:09:59","slug":"fatigue-aerospace-am-rapid-tct-09032026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/fatigue-aerospace-am-rapid-tct-09032026\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Fatigue Still Decides Whether AM Flies \u2014 Insights from Dr. Onome Scott-Emuakpor Ahead of RAPID + TCT 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additive manufacturing promises lighter parts, complex geometries and faster production for aerospace. But in aviation, printing a component is the easy part. Proving it will survive in operation is what determines whether it is ever approved for service. A component can be produced in hours, yet qualifying it can take months of fatigue testing and analysis. At 30,000 feet, reliability is not theoretical and uncertainty is unacceptable. For Dr. Onome Scott-Emuakpor, founder of Hyphen Innovations and former researcher at the Air Force Research Laboratory\u2019s Turbine Engine Structural Integrity Lab, closing that gap between speed and confidence has become central to bringing additive manufacturing into critical flight hardware.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr. Scott-Emuakpor will present this topic at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/the-most-exciting-innovations-at-rapid-tct-2025-140420255\/\">RAPID + TCT<\/a> 2026 in Boston this April, where his presentation, <em>A Post-Process Treatment for Improving Fatigue Performance of Additive Manufactured Parts,<\/em> focuses on accelerating qualification for aerospace components. Ahead of the event, we spoke with him about how industry attitudes toward additive manufacturing have evolved, why fatigue remains the central barrier to adoption and what engineers should understand before attempting flight-critical applications.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3DN: Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain how your background in aerospace engineering led you to focus on additive manufacturing and eventually found Hyphen Innovations?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-69488 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hyphen-Innovations-CEO--300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hyphen-Innovations-CEO--300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hyphen-Innovations-CEO--160x160.jpg 160w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hyphen-Innovations-CEO-.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>My work began at the Air Force Research Laboratory in the Turbine Engine Structural Integrity Lab, where our goal was to ensure critical engine components lasted longer and performed reliably. In aerospace, innovation follows a chain: new designs require new materials, which require new manufacturing. Traditional methods eventually reached their limits, which led me to additive manufacturing about 15 years ago. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/the-metal-3d-printing-guide\/\">Metal AM<\/a> made previously impossible geometries manufacturable, and the research and IP developed during that time ultimately became the foundation for Hyphen Innovations.<\/p><div class=\"dnati-inside-article-leaderboard\" style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"dnati-1322762905\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/us06web.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/3717757396787\/WN_sBfwcCHoQSq1mEANYpWa6Q\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"LB (3)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/LB-3.gif\" alt=\"\"  width=\"850\" height=\"150\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3DN: <\/strong><strong>You\u2019ve attended RAPID + TCT in previous years. From your perspective, how has the industry conversation around additive manufacturing in aerospace changed over time?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The biggest change is the disappearance of absolutes. A decade ago, people would say additive would never be used for certain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/aerospace-and-defense-3d-printing\/\">aerospace<\/a> applications. Today that has shifted to cautious optimism based on data. After years of investigation, the industry now understands AM materials behave differently than traditional ones, but they can still meet flight-critical requirements.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-69483 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/aerospace-AM-fatigue.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/aerospace-AM-fatigue.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/aerospace-AM-fatigue-600x343.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/aerospace-AM-fatigue-160x91.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3DN: <\/strong><strong>Was there a particular presentation, discussion or encounter at a past RAPID + TCT that influenced how you approach research or technology development today?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\u2019s difficult to point to a single presentation. What has influenced me most are the moments where someone tries something no one has attempted before and makes it work. Over the years at RAPID + TCT, I\u2019ve had many \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have thought of that\u201d moments, or times when an idea I considered trivial turned out to be significant. That kind of exposure to unconventional thinking shapes how I approach research and development.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-69484 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/aerospace-AM-fatigue-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/aerospace-AM-fatigue-1.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/aerospace-AM-fatigue-1-600x343.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/aerospace-AM-fatigue-1-160x91.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3DN: <\/strong><strong>There are many conferences covering aerospace and manufacturing. What makes RAPID + TCT especially valuable for engineers working on qualification-critical applications?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/rapid-tct-optisys-additive-manufacturing-aerospace-23022026\/\">RAPID + TCT<\/a> provides a top-down perspective. You can hear a CEO outline a business problem and the strategy behind it, then walk onto the expo floor and see the machine and finished part addressing that same challenge. For engineers working on qualification-critical applications, it allows you to connect the vision, the technical solution and the shop-floor reality in one place.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3DN: <\/strong><strong>A major barrier to adoption in aerospace remains confidence in part reliability. From your experience, where does fatigue performance still limit wider use of additive manufacturing?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fatigue is the most critical material property in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/top-5-videos-am-aerospace-180820194\/\">aerospace<\/a>. The majority of metal components eventually fail or require maintenance because of it. There\u2019s no roadside assistance at 30,000 feet, so we need fast and reliable ways to predict fatigue behavior. Without that, additive manufacturing cannot scale into wider adoption.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-69487 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/hypen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/hypen.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/hypen-600x343.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/hypen-160x91.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3DN: <\/strong><strong>Your presentation is titled \u201cA Post-Process Treatment for Improving Fatigue Performance of Additive Manufactured Parts.\u201d Without revealing everything, what problem are you trying to solve and why is post-processing such a critical piece of the puzzle?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The \u201crapid\u201d disappears when qualification takes months and optimization takes years. We\u2019re challenging the assumption that performance must be solved at the printing stage. Instead, a targeted post-process treatment can significantly extend fatigue life and reduce the need for lengthy iteration cycles.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-69491 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hypen-Innovations-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hypen-Innovations-3.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hypen-Innovations-3-600x343.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hypen-Innovations-3-160x91.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\">3DN: Improving fatigue performance is often thought to require changing the printing process itself. What misconception about material performance in AM does your work challenge?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many assume fatigue must be solved by changing the material. We approach it through physics. Much of aerospace fatigue is driven by vibration. Using our i-DAMP software, we can design parts with up to 96% vibration suppression. Lower vibration means lower stress, bringing the part below the fatigue limit and reducing the need for extensive optimization.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-69490 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hypen-Innovations-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hypen-Innovations-2.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hypen-Innovations-2-600x343.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Hypen-Innovations-2-160x91.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3DN: <\/strong><strong>Who should attend your talk this year, and what practical insight do you hope they walk away with after your session?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aerospace and turbomachinery manufacturers should attend. The key takeaway is that reliable fatigue performance can be achieved cost-effectively, and qualification can be completed 70 to 300 times faster than traditional testing. That shortens the path from innovation to deployment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Register for RAPID + TCT 2026 as 3Dnatives\u2019 guest. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rapid3devent.com\/marketing\/discover-the-advantages-of-additive-3dnatives\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a> to claim your free Expo Pass, save 20% on Conference Passes and discover the latest additive manufacturing technologies, exhibitors and conference sessions across the industry. Will you be attending the event this year? Let us know in the comments below or on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/4987104\/\">LinkedIn<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/3Dnatives\/\">Facebook<\/a> pages. Plus, sign up for our free weekly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/3d-printing-newsletter\/\">Newsletter<\/a> to get the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox. You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>*All Photo Credits: Hyphen Innovations<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"dnati-after-content\" id=\"dnati-3420975341\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/amcoe.org\/event\/design-for-additive-manufacturing-design-at-elevation\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"DfAM course-850&#215;150\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/DfAM-course-850x150-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/DfAM-course-850x150-1.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/DfAM-course-850x150-1-600x106.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/DfAM-course-850x150-1-768x136.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/DfAM-course-850x150-1-160x28.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" width=\"850\" height=\"150\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Additive manufacturing promises lighter parts, complex geometries and faster production for aerospace. But in aviation, printing a component is the easy part. Proving it will survive in operation is what determines whether it is ever approved for service. A component&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6123,"featured_media":69493,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[120,4,1,180],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aerospace","category-interview","category-news","category-rapid-tct"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6123"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69361"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69541,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69361\/revisions\/69541"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}