July 7, 2015 | By Simon
As we continue to hear stories about how various aerospace manufacturers are continuing to adopt additive manufacturing processes into their supply chains, it comes with little surprise that everybody from material suppliers to software manufacturers are looking into how they can better integrate their products into a future that consists of 3D printed commercial airplanes.
Of course, we’re likely never going to see an airplane that’s been created from a single 3D print, however current additive manufacturing technologies - particularly direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) - can already create many of the various components that make up an entire aircraft assembly - all the way from the airplane engine itself down to the seat belt buckle worn by a passenger.
Among other companies who are looking into how they can focus their efforts towards making their product(s) easier to integrate into additive manufacturing processes include Amsterdam-based global producer of aluminium semi-products, Constellium.
The company, which reported €3.7 billion in revenues in 2014, manufactures aluminium rolled products and extruded products based on a large variety of advanced alloys with customers in the aerospace, automotive and packaging sectors.
Today, the company announced that they have has formed a partnership with STELIA Aerospace, a world major player in the design and production of aircraft equipped fuselages and CT INGENIERIE, a leading engineering company in technological innovation throughout the product lifecycle, to engage in a research and development project called FAST, focused on topological optimization of aero structures and additive manufacturing.
The FAST project is focused on optimizing design processes and additive manufacturing technologies in an effort to make both smaller parts and large aerospace structures - such as fuselages - more efficient, cost effective and innovative. While existing and available technologies are capable of producing a large amount of parts and structures for aerospace applications, there are still cost, size and efficiency constraints. The ultimate goal is to develop a solution for creating fuselages using additive manufacturing methods - which would not only be efficient but also able to be modified, duplicated and customized at a rate that’s nearly impossible to do with traditional manufacturing processes.
"The goal of the FAST project is to change the way innovative technologies are implemented and to expand the usage of 3D printing. 3D printing will allow us to create metal shapes and properties that were previously impossible to produce," said Bruno Chenal, Director of R&D, Constellium Research and Technology.
Although the ability to 3D print an airplane fuselage sounds a little ambitious, FAST is a long-term project that is currently only in its early stages of development. Constellium will act as the primary material supplier, while STELIA Aerospace will lead the design and production efforts and CT INGENIERIE will optimize the design.
"We are excited to work with one of our customers, STELIA Aerospace, to find innovative alternatives for printing aluminium and developing aerospace technologies industry wide. This innovative process further supports Constellium's commitment to work closely with all of our customers to develop customized solutions to meet their unique needs," added Chenal.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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