ROLLS Royce has teamed up with young Glasgow engineers to create the world’s first functional 3D printed jet engine model.

Finalist of 3D Hubs Student Grant, JetX are a team of aerospace engineering students at Glasgow University working with Rolls Royce to create the engine model.

The project started in 2013 at the university when Chris Triantafyllou, the founder of JetX, spotted the need for more practical learning to engage people with the subject. The X-plorer 1 model was made by more than 50 young engineers.

Triantafyllou explained how useful 3D printing was to the team. “It took 21 prototypes and only 7 days to get to the part we needed, using another manufacturing method would [have] meant months and the cost would be £1000’s or even £10,000’s,” he said.