Since the Wright brothers invented the wood glider in the early 1900s, technology has taken a 360-degree turn and has made space exploration and international trips a reality. To further add fuel to the growth, 3D printing is bringing a revolution in the aerospace industry by reducing the weight, streamlining the design and making safe airplanes. With the ongoing advancement in this field, the future of the aerospace sector is exciting. From producing complex parts to beautiful cabin interiors, the aerospace sector is gradually utilizing the power of additive manufacturing to 3D print better-performing parts. Interestingly, even NASA is using the technology to create space crafts and foresees future space crafts equipped with 3D printers to send digital files to the astronauts. The ability of the technology to create unforeseen and out-of-the-box benefits even in the space is changing the entire game and putting the ball in the court of the aerospace companies.
Here are a few tangible benefits that the 3D technology is imparting to the capital-intensive aerospace sector.
3D Printing : Reduction in the weight of material
It is the hunt of lightweight structures that are contributing to the rising adoption of 3D printers. Today, with the help of 3D printing companies are not only creating different prototypes, building final parts of the aircrafts. Unlike the traditional manufacturing methods, the additive manufacturing empowers the businesses to develop parts with intricate details, which automatically curbs down the weight of the parts without compromising on the strength and quality. Furthermore, the reduction in the weight implies less usage of material and results in fuel saving – both are critical for diminishing the investment of capital.
3D printing allows for the Creation of a virtual warehouse
Another cost saving benefit, which the aerospace industry enjoys is the usage of the virtual warehouse. As opposed to the traditional methods, the technology empowers companies to build product faster without the need of stocking them for future. Most of the parts are made-to-order with eliminates the requirement of a warehouse. Additive manufacturing lends a helping hand by removing the possibility of spare parts obsolescence. Furthermore, with virtual warehouses, aircraft companies reduce the lead time in transporting the spare part from one location to another.
Enhanced performance of the parts
The 3D technology is changing the way engineers and designers design the complex aircraft components. The faster production time is giving engineers time to think about different design components which can potentially enhance the performance of the parts. Using this immersive technology, companies are successfully building parts which offer superior properties such as strength, resilience, and ductility. Furthermore, when the efficiency of the components increases, it directly impacts the cost associated with maintaining the aircraft.
In the coming years, 3D printing is likely to provide groundbreaking applications and will offer cutting-edge solutions to challenges which the aerospace industry encounters. The investment in the technology is on the rise, and in the coming years, the aerospace sector will witness large-scale adoption.
