Etihad Engineering, a division of the阿提哈德航空集团dedicated to Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services, has opened an additive manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with German 3D printer manufacturersEOSandBigrep。
It is the region’s first 3D printing lab with Design and Production Approval from the欧洲航空安全局（EASA）使用粉末床融合技术生产飞机零件。该设施分别来自EOS和BIGREP，共有两台批准的3D打印机。它的主要系统是EOS P 396SLS 3D printer, which received Airline MRO approval from EASA in October 2019. The second machine is theBigrepONE, a large-scale FFF 3D printer. Using the 3D printers, Etihad Engineering expects to make quicker repairs, more lightweight designs and customized parts tackling key challenges in aerial vehicle downtime.
Bernhard Randerath, VP Design, Engineering and Innovation, Etihad Engineering, commented: “The launch of the new facility is in line with Etihad Engineering’s position as a leading global player in aircraft engineering as well as a pioneer in innovation and technology.”
“We are extremely proud to collaborate with EOS and BigRep to expand our capability and support the UAE’s strategy to increase production technology and cement its position as a global aerospace hub.”
MRO 3D printing at Etihad Engineering
阿提哈德工程公司（Etihad Engineering）是中东最大的商业MRO服务提供商，为全球航空公司提供设计，高级复合维修，机舱翻新和组件服务。
为了将3D打印技术集成到其流程链中，阿提哈德工程公司在2017年首次获得了FFF流程的EASA批准，并且是世界上第一个获得认证，印刷和飞行的航空公司3D printed cabin parts。
该公司与BigRep的合作成立于2018年，当时两家公司合作开发了航空航天行业的增材制造路线图。It focused on ways to develop 3D printing processes and standards for the production of aircraft interiors. Later in November 2018, it was announced that BigRep would also be providing its 3D printers to Etihad Engineering forMRO服务。
同月，阿提哈德工程公司还与EOS签订了新协议以使用其EOS P 396 MRO系统也合作的最终目标是produce 3D printed cabin interiors, using polymer technology. Steps to achieve this aim includes qualifying the machine, process and materials according to aviation regulations, and then rolling out EOS 3D printing abilities across the broader Etihad ecosystem.
MRO的3D打印机舱零件
阿提哈德工程公司的新添加剂制造实验室位于其设施附近阿布扎比国际机场。The ceremony for the official opening of the lab was attended by His Excellency Ernst Peter Fischer, German Ambassador to the UAE.
Atihad Engineering已获得EASA批准用于粉末床融合技术，将使用EOS P 396 3D打印机来设计，生产和认证，并确保添加性制造的组件，以苛刻和高质量的飞机应用和机舱零件。“致力于高质量的解决方案和恒定的技术创新，阿提哈德工程和EOS具有相同的心态，”马库斯·格拉瑟（Markus Glasser）, Senior Vice President, Export Region, EOS.
“Together, we want to bring the design and production of aircraft interior parts to the next level.”
The EOS P 396 has a build volume of 340 x 340 x 600mm, and is designed for the production of serial components, spare parts, functional prototypes and models directly from CAD data. It is capable of producing parts from polymer materials like flame-retardant PA 2241 FR. It can therefore be used to produce cabin parts for an aircraft’s heavy maintenance C-Check, which involves the inspection of a large number of components. Cabin defects that are detected can be replaced with a short turnaround time by 3D printing the part. “Producing cabin interior parts additively will offer a substantial value-add in terms of optimized repair, lightweight design, shorter lead times and customization, addressing some of the key challenges of the aerospace industry, ” adds Glasser.
The BigRep ONE 3D printer features a 1005 x 1005 x 1005 mm build volume. Etihad Engineering will leverage the large-scale FFF system to produce large parts, jigs and fixtures as well as molds on site and on demand. The company also plans to install the more advancedBigrep Prosystem in the future. “Our 3D printers have established 3D printing and AM as an innovative, added-value technology in the aviation industry,” explains Martin Back, BigRep Managing Director. “They offer an unprecedented level of precision, quality and speed, and enable us to use the high-performance, innovative printing materials the aviation industry requires.”
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特色图片显示阿提哈德工程设施。通过阿提哈德工程的照片。
