The importance of additive manufacturing (AM) isn’t lost on the aerospace industry. One simply needs to look at the actions of industry leaders like Boeing and Airbus to see this truth in play. Airbus chose the technology to create parts using ULTEM™ 9085 resin for their A350 XWB aircraft. Boeing touts the installation of more than 50,000 AM parts flying on their commercial, space and defence products.
But it’s not just the giants of the industry that recognise the advantages. Smaller, innovative companies like Aurora Flight Sciences also see the benefits. Aurora developed and flew the first 3D printed jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle, capitalizing on the strength of FDM® (fused deposition modelling) ASA thermoplastic for the main wing and fuselage structures. The aircraft’s main purpose was to demonstrate the speed at which a design can go from concept to a flying aircraft. It also illustrates the validity of AM for flight-capable parts, beyond the traditional role of prototyping.
