Aerospace & Defense

Hypersonic manufacturing is one of the most challenging areas of research in modern aerospace applications. Vehicles traveling at more than five times the speed of sound have to withstand extreme conditions, including temperatures of more than 2000°C and enormous mechanical…

In this week’s #3DExpress, certification is in the spotlight. First, Materialise announced that it had gained EN 9100 certification for its metal AM processes. Now, the Belgian company is looking to help the aerospace sector identify and source flight-ready 3D…

Have you heard of electrospray engines? These propulsion systems involve applying an electric field to a conductive liquid, generating a high-speed jet of tiny droplets capable of propelling a spacecraft. Such miniature motors are particularly suitable for small satellites, known…

Space is an extreme environment where dangers abound, and radiation is one of them. During space missions, astronauts and their equipment are exposed to much higher radiation than on Earth. Without appropriate protection, the equipment could malfunction. As for astronauts,…

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has just revealed an interesting partnership with Rolls-Royce, involving the use of additive manufacturing. Together, they are taking in the Tornado 2 Tempest program, which involves recycling spare parts from obsolete fighter aircraft and transforming…

Aerospace is one of the sectors where additive manufacturing has truly left its mark. This includes in telecommunications. Here, 3D printing makes it possible to develop antennas with improved designs and advanced materials. These antennas are essential for data transmission…

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) works to advance technology for United States national security. Created in 1958 in response to the Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of Sputnik, the agency positions itself as the nation’s commitment “to never again…

Drag reduction is a priority for airplanes as it helps to reduce fuel consumption, increase operational range and increase the speed of the craft.  Now it seems that additive manufacturing could play a role. The Air Force Operational Energy and…

Space is the final frontier of human exploration and additive manufacturing is playing a key role in that expansion. From producing rocket components to printing parts in zero gravity, 3D printing is being chosen in aerospace for its ability to…

Most of the heat control systems in use today are heavy, bulky and require many connecting cables. The EU project AHEAD (Advanced Heat Exchange Devices) aims to optimize these systems, and now a promising result has been presented: a 3D-printed…

American firm Supernova has been selected to receive a $2 million subcontracting contract awarded by the American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation (ACMI). The goal of this agreement is to enable Supernova to advance 3D printing of military-grade energetic materials…

When most people think of making helmets safer, 3D printing technology is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. However, over the years we have seen numerous examples where additive manufacturing has contributed to better-fitting, more comfortable helmets,…