#3DExpress: Dubai’s First Fully 3D Printed Boat

This week, we’re taking you on a boat tour, and not just any boat! It’s a boat entirely 3D printed by a Dubai-based company. Thanks to 3D technologies, the company is able to drastically reduce manufacturing lead times, thereby boosting productivity. What’s more, the structure is made from recycled plastic. In this 3DExpress, you’ll also take to the skies: a Polish airline has opted for additive manufacturing to design the new seat armrests for its Boeing 737s. This frees the company from the problem of spare parts, and gives it greater flexibility. Enjoy your trip!

A Fully 3D Printed Boat in Dubai

As you know, the city of Dubai is increasingly looking at the use of additive manufacturing to create its infrastructure. It would seem that this use is also extending to transport, and more specifically to boats. In fact, the company Inoventive 3D has just revealed the city’s first fully 3D-printed boat. Called Cyberfin, it measures 10 meters long, 2.1 meters wide and 2.7 meters high, and is made from recycled marine waste. According to the company, it took precisely 6 days and 9 hours to manufacture (compared with 3 to 4 months using traditional methods). It has a capacity of 10 people. Inoventive 3D intends to speed up production of these boats – it could 3D print 6 to 7 structures a month.

Armrests Made With Additive Manufacturing in Boeing 737s

LOT Polish Airlines is Poland’s national airline, serving numerous destinations worldwide. Its fleet includes several Boeing 737s. And the reason we’re telling you about it today is that economy-class seats are now equipped with 3D-printed armrests. To be precise, the airline has received 1,200 armrests. Previously, these were manufactured using more traditional methods, with assembly steps that weakened the armrest’s lifespan. They were fitted with a cap attached to an injection-molded frame. But the cap often tended to detach from the frame, causing regular breakage. To overcome this problem, LOT approached AM Craft, who used FDM technology and ULTEM 9085 filament. The armrest was completely rethought in terms of design to avoid these assembly steps and the risks mentioned. Not only is the final armrest stronger, it’s also quicker to obtain, and the airline is freed from the problems associated with spare parts and storage.