3D-printing possibilities for the manufacturing technology development of hydroacoustic longitudinal bending type emitters with the complex radiator's body geometry

Low-frequency hydroacoustic emitters are being used in a wide range of tasks: from long-distance sound communication and remote control to seismoacoustic reconnaissance. Thus the manufacturing of compact high-power radiators emitting in a sufficiently wide frequency band is an actual task. Making the radiator shell is one of the most laborious and complicated technological operations in the process of creating and customizing hydroacoustic transducers. Unrealizable for the ordinary metalworking complex shapes of radiator's body can be produced by layering laser melting (SLM-technology). Making the radiator shell longitudinal bending-type piezoelectric active element by laser 3D-printing of metal powders eliminates the problem of encapsulation, resistance to hydrostatic pressure and reduce the parameters dispersion of the radiator to facilitate its configuration, as well as improve reliability of the transducer.