3D Resources
Additive Manufacturing with Composites in Aerospace and Defense
70% Faster 80% Lower Cost Insights from an air force engineer on the DoD’s applications of additive manufacturing and 3D printing’s growing influence in industry
Aerospace
Aerospace 3D printing: the simplest way to fabricate advanced composite and metal parts
From on-demand MRO and spare parts in commercial aviation to innovation in Urban Air Mobility, aerospace industry leaders are improving responsiveness to rapidly shifting supply chains and labor availability with Additive Manufacturing.
The Digital Forge gives modern manufacturers the simplest way to build with materials they already know. Fabricate end-use carbon fiber composites unattended, overnight. Skip multi-week lead times and expedite fees for metal and composite prototypes, tools, and fixtures.
For the first time, Markforged supports ULTEM™ 9085 Filament on the Digital Forge. The FX20 3D printer can reinforce ULTEM™ Filament with continuous Carbon Fiber, bringing composite strength to an aerospace-ready material. Traceable, flight-ready Onyx FR-A and Carbon Fiber FR-A provide another flame retardant printing solution.
*The ULTEM™ and 9085 trademarks are used under license from SABIC, its affiliates or subsidiaries.
Traceable, Purpose-Built Materials
ULTEM™ 9085 Filament, Onyx FR-A and Carbon Fiber FR-A are all lot-qualified, flame-retardant materials. Each is purpose-built for the requirements of the aerospace, transportation and automotive industries. FR-A materials establish lot-level material traceability and pass the test suite necessary for qualification under 14 CFR 25.853 for most 3D-printable parts. Onyx FR-A and Carbon Fiber FR-A as printed on the Markforged X7 are undergoing qualification through the NCAMP process.
Prepared for Regulated Applications
Markforged recognizes the advanced regulatory and functional requirements of the aerospace industry. Traceable materials, software version-locking for parts, Blacksmith in-process laser inspection, and ongoing NCAMP qualification for Onyx FR-A and Carbon Fiber FR-A on the X7 provide the foundations for accelerating the path from digital art to flying part.
On-Demand, Distributed Manufacturing
Turn the supply chain into a competitive advantage with distributed manufacturing at bases, airports, and maintenance depots. With a digital library and on-demand fabrication, get MRO and spare parts where and when you need them with the only additive manufacturing platform built to go anywhere.
“In aerospace, it’s important to have quality parts we can adapt on the fly to make any changes the customer requests.”
Jeff Pike, VP of Engineering, Cabin Management Solutions (CMS)
ULTEM™ 9085 Filament: Aerospace Ready Polymer
Long used as a high-value aerospace polymer, ULTEM™ 9085 Filament is now printable on the FX20. Its superior performance in flame, toxicity, and smoke (FST) tests and its high strength make it a chosen material for aircraft and spacecraft alike.
The FX20 is Markforged’s new flagship 3D printer — capable of reinforcing ULTEM™ 9085 Filament with continuous Carbon Fiber.
Onyx FR-A and Carbon Fiber FR-A: Traceable, Flame-Retardant Composites
Purpose-built for the requirements of the aerospace, transportation and automotive industries, FR-A materials establish lot-level material traceability and pass the test suite necessary for qualification under 14 CFR 25.853 for most 3D-printable parts.
Onyx FR-A and Carbon Fiber FR-A as printed on the Markforged X7 are undergoing qualification through the NCAMP process.
Example Documentation for Traceable Materials
Digital Forge for 3D Printed Aerospace Tooling
JJ Churchill trusts the precision and unmatched strength of Markforged’s fiber-reinforced Onyx material. Find out how JJC and over 100+ of the world’s top manufacturers use the Markforged platform to dream bigger and accomplish more.
“Once we realized the directional strength properties available with the Markforged products, we haven’t used anything else.”
Drill templates are a common tool used across many industries in manufacturing and are heavily relied on in aerospace tooling. When a drilling operation has to be performed by hand, custom tooling needs to be developed to simplify the process and make it repeatable. A drill template tool makes a cumbersome drilling operation as simple as locating the tool and then drill the hole.
High-value aerospace applications
3D Resources
Hangar One Avionics: Cockpit Console and Cupholders
Hangar One Avionics is a San Diego-based avionics and maintenance company. The team specializes in completions of law enforcement and special mission aircraft for a
3D Resources
Cabin Management Solutions: In-Flight Entertainment Retrofits
Cabin Management Solutions (CMS), based in Texas, designs and manufactures cabin management and in-flight entertainment systems for business and private aircraft. CMS is often called
