Safran 3D Prints a Titanium Nose Landing Gear Component For a Business Jet

The French industrial group Safran, and more specifically the Safran Landing Systems branch, has used SLM Solutions‘ Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology to produce a component of a business jet’s nose landing gear. More concretely, they have used metal additive manufacturing to make one of the parts used to transfer loads from the wheel to the aircraft structures and which retracts after take-off. It measures 455 x 295 x 805 mm, a fairly large volume for metal AM. Thanks to this production method, Safran has reduced the total weight of the part by 15%, while maintaining its mechanical properties. The component in question is 3D printed from titanium, and is subject to high stresses. Because of this stress, this part has never before been created using additive manufacturing, due to the loads involved. The French equipment manufacturer is therefore demonstrating the full potential of 3D technologies in the aeronautical sector.

The 3D printed part (photo credits: SLM Solutions)

The landing gear of an aircraft obviously has a few key functions, namely it is used for takeoff, landing and braking. Safran Landing Systems was particularly interested in making a part that must be able to withstand the stresses transmitted by the aircraft wheel. Nicolas Nguyen, head of the R&T platform for the project at Safran Landing Systems, notes: “This is a structural element that is subject to a lot of stresses: it must be able to pivot to allow the landing gear to retract under the aircraft, and it must absorb the mechanical stresses from the aircraft’s wheels. The use of additive manufacturing for a part of this nature and size is a world first.”

A 3D printed titanium lander casing

The parts measures 455 x 295 x 805 mm and was printed on an SLM Solutions metal machine, the SLM 800, known for its quad-laser technology and reliability. Instead of producing the part in three separate parts with a 5-axis machine, the teams explain that they were able to manufacture it in one go, eliminating the costly and time-consuming assembly stage. Thierry Berenger, Additive Manufacturing project manager at Safran Landing Systems, says, “We chose SLM Solutions as our partner as experts in this type of project, particularly because of their particularly high-performance additive manufacturing machine, the SLM®800, which meets our requirements for print size, quality and reliability in every respect.” By rethinking the very design of the part to adapt it to additive manufacturing, Safran Landing Systems has reduced its total mass by 15%, also reducing production times, allowing the French group to accomplish two of their objectives which they have been targeting.