Applications
Formnext Provides a Stage for the Applications and Potential of AM in Aerospace
Like every year, Formnext 2024 was a snapshot of what is currently driving the AM industry and where trends will be heading. While last year’s focus was on automotive and sustainability, this year we saw an increased presence of 3D…
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Like every year, Formnext 2024 was a snapshot of what is currently driving the AM industry and where trends will be heading. While last year’s focus was on automotive and sustainability, this year we saw an increased presence of 3D metal printing technologies and aerospace applications. This could be seen directly at the exhibitors’ stands through the use cases and innovative 3D printing systems presented. Additionally, this was evident in the numerous conferences and lectures dedicated to metal processing and aerospace. We have already highlighted the innovative metal applications at Formnext in a previous article, so in the following, we will discuss why AM is increasingly being used in aerospace, what challenges still exist and what solutions can leverage the potential of 3D printing in this field.
Additive manufacturing is primarily used in the aerospace industry for space vehicle components, including parts for rocket propulsion, combustion chambers, injector heads and pump systems. Part production in space, sometimes using space material, is another important area of the field. Examples include runways and building structures made from Martian or lunar regolith.
Photo credits: ICON
AM makes it possible to achieve intricate, complex designs and, in the case of rocket engines, to integrate cooling systems in a single production step. In many application examples, additively manufactured parts lead to increased performance. This is also because in some cases, customized materials with specific properties are used. The advantages mentioned apply not only to the components but also to in-space structures. Additive manufacturing is flexible and on demand. It also ensures high precision with low-to-medium energy consumption. The technology is valued for its material efficiency, as we learned in the presentation by Mohammad Azami from Concordia Aerospace Robotics Lab. Nevertheless, traditional processes such as casting and sintering of regolith concrete are still used to produce components with simple geometries thanks to their speed.
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