How 3D Printing is transforming Aerospace Industry :
The widespread adoption of 3D printing is most visible in the aerospace and automotive industries. These were some of the first industries to adopt 3D printing for end-use parts in the first place, and so they have the most accumulated experience.
The ability for additive technologies to produce single, lightweight pieces with complex internal geometries is particularly valuable for these industries.
Some of the toughest industry performance standards exist in this realm, requiring parts to hold up in harsh conditions.
Engineers designing and manufacturing for commercial and military aerospace platforms need flight-worthy components made from high-performance materials.
Lightweight design : Products manufactured using additive manufacturing combine high strength with a weight reduction of 40-60%.The material savings translate into more flexibility in Design and Engineering.
The French Aerospace company Airbus is pioneering this emerging technology, using 3D printing for a wide range of applications.
Other military and aerospace entities like Lockheed Martin are also turning to additive manufacturing to speed up the prototyping and production process. Even the industrial giant General Electric has gotten into the aerospace 3D printing game. The company recent spent $1.4 billion to purchase Sweden’s Arcam AB and Germany’s SLM Solutions Group, both of which in 3D printing metal parts for jet engines and cars.
Whether it’s 3D printing a jet engine or interior part for an airplane, additive manufacturing is a game-changer in the aerospace. Even beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, space agencies like NASA are heavily invested in 3D printing technology, looking to produce objects ground land also up in space.
Advantages of 3D Printing in Aerospace :
Saving time in the development cycle.
Reducing costs in the development cycle.
And/Or enhancing quality and design of final products.