Aerospace: From vision to working products

Aerospace is an innovative sector, driven by the need for energy efficiency and solutions for space logistics, cargo supply, the use of drones, and more. New designs require sophisticated parts that combine, for example, exceptional load capacity with minimum weight and space, and the ability to integrate electric drives. Transforming a design into a working product requires a deep understanding of the materials and prototyping methods that will work best.

30/06/2023 11:13:27

Engineers are also looking to speed up manufacturing processes and keep costs down. The sector’s early adoption of digitalisation is helping to achieve these goals: Industry 4.0 is a modus operandi in aerospace. Thanks to advancements in traditional manufacturing methods and the more widespread adoption of technologies such as additive manufacturing, innovation can now be realised within shorter timeframes.

Materials fit for production
Additive manufacturing and 3D printing allow organisations to iterate designs more quickly, prototype in final materials, and manufacture complex geometries. Numerous additive manufacturing methods are used for aerospace applications, but none deliver as much of a punch as metal 3D printing, also known as direct metal laser sintering (DMLS).

Read the full article in DPA's July issue