News
Airbus Helicopters 3D printing of A350 components
September 26, 2018 By Helicopters Staff
Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth, Germany, officially launched the production of latch shafts for the doors of A350 passenger aircraft using 3D manufacturing. The printed components are cheaper to produce and weigh less than their counterparts made using traditional means, explains Airbus, noting this investment will lead to more economical and environmentally friendly aircraft.
Cutting the ribbon to launch metallic 3D printing at Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth are (left to right): Andreas Stöckle “Our goal is to get developers making more use of 3D printing. This means that 3D printing should be taken into consideration right from the initial planning stages for new components, which may be able to be manufactured particularly easily and cost-effectively using this method,” said Luis Martin Diaz, head of industrial service centers, Airbus Helicopters Donauwörth. “Weight savings are especially important when it comes to helicopters. Airbus will start preparations for the industrialisation of 3D-printed helicopter components this year.”
Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth is manufacturing doors for all Airbus aircraft programs as a supplier. The redesign of the latch shafts and the new production process have resulted in Airbus’s first large-scale production using metallic 3D printing.
Cutting the ribbon to launch metallic 3D printing at Airbus Helicopters in Donauwörth are (left to right): Andreas Stöckle
The latch shafts are made using an EOS M 400-4 printer and are composed of titanium powder. Airbus explains four laser beams melt the powder and produce the desired components layer by layer. The company continues to say this method allows parts to be created from much less material, making them lighter, yet just as sturdy as the original component. Up to 28 latch shafts can be produced in a single printing process.
3D printed latch shafts are 45 per cent lighter and 25 per cent cheaper to produce than traditional ones. As each A350 has 16 latch shafts, Airbus explains producing these parts using 3D printing leads to a saving of just over four kilos per aircraft.
Airbus Helicopters plans to deliver 2,200 components a year once production is fully operational. Qualification is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2018, with serial production starting in early 2019; the first A350 components – with serial number 420 – are set to take to the skies in 2020.
Airbus Helicopters states it has already started preparations to produce an even larger group of A350 door components using 3D printing, and this method is also expected to be utilized to produce helicopter components.
“We are proud that Airbus Helicopters relies on EOS-Technology for the manufacturing of flight critical components such as latch shafts,” said Nikolai Zaepernick, senior vice president Central Europe, EOS. “Our systems provide a very high and reproducible quality. With this machine performance and with our know-how we can significantly support Airbus Helicopters in the certification process for the component.”
