Angel Trains and Stratasys; Collaboration developing railway additive manufacturing

Angel Trains is one of the largest train hire specialists in Britain; They recently partnered with ESG Rail and the manufacturer Stratasys to 3D print certain interior components of their trains. This including certain spare parts establishing railway additive manufacturing. Together and thanks to 3D technologies, the partners hope to disrupt the railway sector by offering cheaper and faster solutions to produce.

When we talk about additive manufacturing, we often come to talk about the transport sector and particularly automotive. Where we start to see more vehicles integrating 3D printed parts because they are lighter and more efficient. However, the rail industry is not left out: applications are multiplying and train manufacturers are seriously considering this method of manufacture. In this regards we think of the Dutch company Nederlandse Spoorwegen, which recently revealed twenty or so 3D printed parts for its trains. This time, our focus is on Britain, where one of the UK’s giants has officially started producing 3D printed components.

3D printed Flip shelves

The parts that have been approved so far include an arm rest, grab handle and seat back table. All of which will be 3D printed on Stratasys FDM machines from high temperature thermoplastic materials. Angel Trains explains that they used the Stratasys Antero 800 NA filament. A PEKK-based material compatible with rail industry standards, which has better mechanical properties than traditional thermoplastics.