3D printed non-structural parts for the A350 XWB aircraft

19 July 2017

Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Stratasys and one of the world’s largest 3D printing and advanced manufacturing service providers, has been chosen by Airbus to produce 3D printed polymer parts for use on A350 XWB aircraft. The company will print non-structural parts such as brackets, and other parts used for system installation, on Stratasys FDM production 3D printers using Ultem 9085 material from Sabic. The project will help Airbus achieve greater supply chain flexibility, and improve cost competitiveness, while leveraging on reduced material consumption and waste.

Stratasys Direct Manufacturing’s 3D printing capacity and infrastructure allow printing and shipping parts on demand to Airbus, bringing the expected reactivity, tighter turnaround times and lower inventory costs.

“We are proud to work with Airbus to continually advance 3D printing in aerospace applications,” said Joe Allison, CEO of Stratasys Direct Manufacturing. “Our expertise in building parts ready for installation on the aircraft, along with our unique process controls and quality procedures, will allow Airbus to improve competitiveness leveraging on the technical benefits of 3D printing.”

Stratasys, the parent company of Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, and Airbus share a history of collaboration, having worked together since 2013 on the implementation of 3D printing FDM technology for Airbus tools and flying parts applications. This collaboration led to the qualification in 2014 of ULTEM™ 9085 material for the production of flying parts on Airbus aircrafts. Since 2015, Airbus has installed thousands of FDM flying parts on aircrafts.