Airbus Helicopters Enhances Competitive Edge through Adoption of 3D Printing Technology
Airbus Helicopters has taken a significant stride in the aerospace industry by implementing 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, at its Donauwörth site. This move offers numerous benefits, including the use of additive manufacturing in serial production, which allows for more efficient and flexible component manufacturing.
The application of 3D printing at Donauwörth extends beyond prototypes, demonstrating the maturity and reliability of this technology for standard manufacturing in the aerospace sector. By enabling the creation of complex shapes that reduce weight without compromising structural integrity, Airbus Helicopters is improving the fuel efficiency of its aircraft, a critical factor for both environmental and economic performance.
The production of the locking shafts for the Airbus A350 doors has been ongoing since 2017, showcasing the capability of the 3D printing process in producing complex structures. Over 9,400 locking shafts have been mass-produced using the additive process within the Donauwörth-based airplane door business.
The locking shafts, made from titanium, are part of the serial production and are produced using three machines dedicated to components made of titanium. The process requires only 1.5 times as much raw material as the final product, compared to up to ten times more in conventional manufacturing, demonstrating the resource efficiency in the manufacturing process.
The 3D printing process is particularly appealing for building prototypes due to its high flexibility. Components with new configurations can be printed as individual pieces or in small series for testing purposes. Airbus Helicopters now operates a total of seven 3D printing machines, with four dedicated to plastic parts and one for aluminium components.
The production of the locking shafts for the Airbus A350 doors contributes to the reduction in fuel consumption and overall operational costs. The process can reduce the weight of aircraft components, leading to less fuel consumption. This aligns with Airbus’s broader sustainability goals in aerospace manufacturing.
The use of the 3D printing process in the production of the locking shafts for the Airbus A350 doors has been ongoing at the Donauwörth site. Eleven tonnes of titanium powder have been used in Donauwörth for printing the locking shafts, highlighting the significant impact of this technology on the aerospace industry.
In summary, Airbus Helicopters' Donauwörth site has embraced 3D printing, offering numerous benefits including resource efficiency, design optimization, weight reduction, and improved fuel efficiency. The production of the locking shafts for the Airbus A350 doors serves as a testament to the applicability of the 3D printing process in serial production and its potential to revolutionize the aerospace industry.
In Airbus Helicopters' strategic shift, data-and-cloud-computing technologies are leveraged to optimize the 3D printing process, ensuring efficient production control and resource management. This integration of technology advances the manufacturing process, propelling data-and-cloud-computing as a critical component in the revolution of the aerospace industry by Airbus Helicopters.
With the integration of 3D printing in serial production, complex shapes that reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity are possible, demonstrating the industry-wide practicality of this technology in utilizing data-and-cloud-computing for aerospace design and manufacturing.
