{"id":11782,"date":"2021-10-07T20:05:45","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T20:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the3dsourced.wpengine.com\/?p=11782"},"modified":"2023-05-13T21:53:44","modified_gmt":"2023-05-13T21:53:44","slug":"3d-printing-in-aerospace-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/3d-printing-in-aerospace-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"3D Printing in Aerospace: Everything You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

The aerospace industry was an early adopter of 3D printing, reportedly using the technology as early as the 1980s. Aerospace has only continued to implement 3D printing into their production processes, and for good reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an industry where reducing drag by a few degrees, or reducing an aircraft\u2019s weight by a few grams, creates enormous financial savings. Perhaps infamously, it was Robert Crandall, CEO of American Airlines in the 1980s, who suggested that removing one olive from every salad served would save his airline $40,000 dollars every year<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, 3D printing can produce these often complex structures in a way that is faster, cheaper, and potentially lighter than traditional methods. Naturally, the industry paid attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we also aren\u2019t going on holiday in completely 3D printed passenger jets just yet. So, this begs the question, just how extensively is 3D printing used within aerospace today?<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"An<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Advantages – 3D Printing and Aerospace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like in many industries, adopting 3D printing allows manufacturers to produce complex parts faster, cheaper, and more accurately than conventional methods. But the technology isn\u2019t suitable for everyone, with manufacturers who produce simple components, or enormous runs of products, benefitting less from 3D printing’s advantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not true of aerospace however. With the complexity of its components, and its emphasis on efficiency and saving weight, 3D printing offers significant benefits, just like in our first example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avio Aero<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not content with simply getting by, Avio Aero has<\/a> challenged themselves to also improve and innovate upon their aircraft designs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAvio Aero’s challenge is to develop new technologies and applications to reduce fuel consumption & CO2 emissions, produce lighter aircraft, and achieve better performance.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

And to achieve this, they\u2019ve turned to 3D printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operating out of purpose-built factories across Europe, Avio Aero has confidently adopted 3D printing into its manufacturing process. In fact, one of their industrial plants in Cameri, Italy, was also the largest 3D printing factory in the world when it was built in 2013. It features over sixty 3D printers, and two gas atomizers to produce metal 3D printing powders in-house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously, Avio Aero had manufactured their products using traditional casting, and had much to say about the benefits of switching to 3D printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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