28th April 2021 10:37 am 28th April 2021 10:37 am A neutron source has been used to perform non-destructive testing on 3D printed gas turbine components in Germany. Neutron diffraction is an ideal method for measuring residual stress inside of components made by additive manufacturing (Image: Dr. Tobias Fritsch/BAM) Air-cooled latticed turbine buckets operate at extreme temperatures and pressures within gas turbines. Their complex structure can be created additively, with selective laser sintering the technology widely used. “Complex components with such intricate structures would be impossible to make using conventional manufacturing methods like casting or milling,” said Dr Tobias Fritsch, from the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM).