Airbus Standardizes on Stratasys 3D Printing Material

Airbus A350 XWB (Image courtesy of Airbus.)

We’ve heard a lot about how 3D printing is changing the way people make things—all sorts of things, from personal projects to industrial manufacturing.

The latest example comes from Airbus, which has jumped on board with Stratasys, in an effort to improve aircraft parts using additive manufacturing.

A major hurdle to this was the stringent guidelines that must be placed on aircraft parts and the materials used to make them - that is, until the polyetherimide (PEI) ULTEM 9085.

Stratasys’ ULTEM 9085 resin is now certified to an Airbus material specification for use in Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). The ULTEM 9085 material combines a high strength-to-weight ratio with the level of flame, smoke, and toxicity (FST) compliance necessary for aircraft flight parts.

Airbus has used FDM-based 3D printers since 2014 for less crucial parts of the A350 XWB. The passenger plane’s design incorporates carbon fibre reinforced plastic wings that adjust to flight conditions and an improved flight deck.

(Image courtesy of Airbus.)

“We see the demand for our additive manufacturing solutions coming from a variety of time-sensitive industries, including everything from aerospace and automotive to medical and consumer products,” said Andy Middleton, President, Stratasys EMEA.

“By adopting Stratasys additive manufacturing strategies in supply chain management, companies can not only protect time to market commitments but also increase product innovation while decreasing inventory requirements,” Middleton added.

For more information, check out the ULTEM 9085 Spec Sheet from Stratasys.