End-to-end manufacturing solutions can speed up the supply chain process and shorten the time for aircraft to be repaired on the ground
The new DuraForm ProX FR1200 material has passed FAR 25.853 (American Aviation Management Regulations-Transportation Aircraft-Cabin Interior Implementation Regulations), meeting the flame retardancy standards required by the aviation market

3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) shared the experience of additive manufacturing in the aerospace and defense fields with customers at the Dubai Airshow. As the inventor of 3D printing, 3D Systems is committed to providing leading end-to-end manufacturing solutions for the aerospace and defense fields, including software, technology, materials and services. Compared with traditional manufacturing processes, these solutions can help customers produce parts with lighter weight and lower operating costs, while maintaining the tensile strength of the parts.

Participants learned about the 3D production solutions we developed with customers in the aerospace field at the 3D Systems booth.

Bryan Hodgson of 3D Systems spoke at the exhibition forum and discussed the advantages of industrial 3D printing to the aviation industry.
▼ SLS platform adds flame-retardant nylon materials for cabin components

The new DuraForm®ProX®FR1200 nylon material passed FAR 25.853 (American Aviation Management Regulations-Transportation Aircraft-Cabin Interior Implementation Regulations), meeting the flame retardancy standards required by the aviation market. The material also passed the AITM smoke density test and toxicity test. The halogen-free formula ensures that the prints can be used safely. The surface quality of the parts made of this material is excellent, and the surface is bright and white, which is very suitable for post-treatment and painting.

DuraForm ProX FR1200

Combining this material with 3D Systems' SLS printing technology can achieve very fast, tool-free on-demand production, speed up the supply chain response speed, reduce aircraft component inventory and shorten the waiting time for repairs of faulty aircraft. The material is currently being certified by an international airline.

▼ New investment casting reduces time and cost
3D Systems is a pioneer in 3D printing investment casting prototypes and related services. Through SLA technology, QuickCast® technology and materials, the printed prototype has an excellent surface finish.

Customers including Vaupell use Accura CastPr Free to produce antimony-free SLA casting models for aerospace customers at a fraction of the cost of traditional manufacturing methods.

Andy Reeves, a new business development and sales engineer at Vaupell, estimates that using QuickCast technology and the SLA printer ProX 800, a prototype of a 26-inch diameter component can be produced in 2 to 3 days. It only costs about 6000-15000 US dollars. Using traditional methods may require several From a month to more than a year, it will cost about US0,000 to US0,000.
▼ The application of direct metal printing technology in key tasks and avoiding risks
3D Systems works closely with many airlines to research, design and certify metal printed parts for the industry. An important European satellite system manufacturer is our partner. They use 3D printed metal parts to change the satellite design.  3D Systems’ direct metal printing technology has been verified by them, and printed titanium alloy parts have been used by them. The printed parts are lighter and more compact, and their tensile strength is equal to or even better than traditional manufactured parts.
Today, for products like satellites, 80% of the metal parts are produced using 3D printing, replacing traditional manufacturing parts.
Bryan Hodgson of 3D Systems’ Aerospace Applications Division said: “3D Systems has a long history of applications in the aerospace and defense industries, and we have had many successful collaborations with our customers.” “At this exhibition, we are very I am glad to be able to show our customers a product with high productivity, repeatability, durability and economy."

▼ Software can accelerate the process from prototype to production

Reverse modeling of the Emirates display housing in Geomagic Design X
In addition to providing technology, materials and professional services, 3D Systems also has a comprehensive software portfolio that supports digital manufacturing workflows from digitization, design & simulation, to manufacturing, inspection and management.  The comprehensive product portfolio enables customers to use advanced engineering tools to directly process CAD data work and improve the accuracy and precision of manufacturing. 3D Systems provides industrial-grade software solutions to support aerospace manufacturing workflows, lightweight parts design, rapid production of obsolete parts, and full preparation for additive manufacturing and traditional subtractive manufacturing. Emirates uses 3D Systems reverse engineering software Geomagic®Design X™ and 3D inspection software Geomagic®Control X™ Deng 3D scanning application software to serve their advanced manufacturing technology, such as using Design X to reverse modeling the display housing.
Use FARO scanner to collect display housing data
3D Systems also showed how Geomagic Design X and Geomagic Control X can be used in 3D scanning applications, including reverse engineering and CAD-based inspection.
▼ Introducing the next generation of additive manufacturing solutions
3D Systems' end-to-end solutions for aerospace and defense are part of the company's diverse additive manufacturing product portfolio, which can provide unique solutions for customer workflows. Recently, 3D Systems also announced several new products to make the company's product line more comprehensive, and can provide customers with a variety of additive manufacturing software, services and technologies to meet the most extensive customer application needs in various industries.
The newly released new products include plastic and metal materials that can be applied to production, the expansion of workflow software and a new generation of printers, combined with 3D Systems’ rich additive manufacturing experience, advanced application expertise and global outlets, enabling customers to achieve The transition of materials from prototype to production.