AEROSPACE SUPPLEMENT
PLASTIC ADDITIVE PARTS INCREASINGLY FAVOURED
Stratasys is the 3D printing pioneer, claiming a history of 30+ years in the
technology. A developer of materials and machines, it is mostly associated
with plastics technology. While metal 3D-printed parts are a major interest
in aerospace, plastic parts already have a foothold that is strengthening,
sometimes replacing previously metal parts. Andrew Allcock has more
Stratasys has been working with BAE
Systems since 2006 and with Airbus
since 2013. For the latter’s A350XWB,
Stratasys technology was selected in 2017 for
the printing of plastic parts for non-loaded or
lightly loaded parts. Last year, BAE Systems plc
announced it would further strengthen its
efforts in emerging additive manufacturing
solutions within its Land, Maritime and Air
Sectors.
The 3D printing expert will provide the
defence, security and aerospace giant with
increased access to new materials and
production technologies currently under
development or planned by the company.
BAE Systems deploys a blend of the
company’s PolyJet and FDM-based additive
manufacturing technologies. These include a
battery of F900 Production 3D printers,
installed at the company’s advanced
manufacturing facility in Samlesbury, Lancs.
Commenting on the collaboration, Dave
Holmes, manufacturing director, BAE Systems
Air, said: “We’re delighted to bolster our
relationship with such an innovative partner as
Stratasys. Already integrated across our
production operations, Stratasys’ technology
will continue to be vital in addressing and
solving our current and future manufacturing
challenges.”
Yann Rageul, head of strategic accounts for
EMEA at Stratasys, responded: “Stratasys’
close cooperation and knowledge-share with
strategic customers like BAE Systems is
paramount to ensuring we continue to stay
ahead of the curve when it comes to
developing and delivering additive
manufacturing solutions that meet exacting
application requirements within key industries.
“We look forward to strengthening our ties
and working even more closely with BAE
Systems to help realise their short and longterm
manufacturing objectives.”
Late last year, the United States Air Force
said it had certi ed a Stratasys F900 3D
printer for use in the 60th Maintenance
Squadron at Travis Air Force Base (Travis AFB)
in California. Importantly, it is the rst eld-unit
location in the Air Force to have a certi ed
industrial-sized 3D printer, with this now
authorised to produce non-structural and
replacement aircraft parts. It will employ
Stratasys’ Ultem 9085, an engineering-grade
thermoplastic that is the same one Airbus
standardised on for its A350 XWB, in fact.
Aerospace is no stranger to plastic
3D-printed parts, then. And more recently their
use and distributed 3D printing are being cited
by some as part of their sustainability goals
(see box, p17).
Moving to some speci c examples here in
the UK and Stratasys technology is
being heavily employed at UK rm
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, which
has turned to 3D printing to create ight-ready
plastic parts at a fraction of the cost and time
involved in using traditional manufacturing
methods for metal parts.
The Cambridge-based rm originally looked
at metal additive manufacturing as a solution
but discovered that the quality of Stratasys
polymer technology – supplied by SYS Systems
(https://is.gd/kucoli) – could deliver the quality
of materials it needed to satisfy industry
regulations.
Marshall already has several pieces of
3D-printed plastic ductwork ying on heavily
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Fast, lightweight, strong
Airbus
Marshall is successfully employing Stratasys
technology. This ducting adapter was made in
Nylon 12, rather than aluminium
/kucoli)
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