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IDEC and Wehl & Partner using Stratasys 3D printer for aerospace tooling

西班牙航空复合专家IDECand German advanced prototyping service provider,Wehl & Partner, have employed the use of aStratasys3D printer in a government-funded project exploring the capabilities ofResin Transfer Molding(RTM) technology in aerospace parts.

该项目的目的是减少与传统复合成型有关的时间,成本和材料浪费。IDEC专注于测试一种新的复合材料,研究了使用RTM制造弯曲飞机机翼的成型过程。Wehl&Partner使用其Stratasys 3D打印机,由Stratasys的西班牙分销商提供Pixel Sistemas, to help IDEC manufacture a preform tool with specific properties and increased efficiency, saving the company time.

“Stratasys additive manufacturing enabled us to produce the preform tool in just 60 hours. With CNC machining, it would have taken at least four weeks to produce this type of part,” explained Diego Calderón, Structural Analysis Manager at IDEC.

“Indeed, not only did we slash the production lead-time on the preform tool, but we also expedited the whole composite molding process.”

The preform tool manufactured using Stratasys 3D printer. Photo via Stratasys.
The final composite part of a curved aircraft wing, produced with Stratasys FDM technology. Photo via Stratasys.

High pressure and heat-resistant preform tool

RTM is a method for the mass production of composite parts, primarily used to mold components with large surface areas, and is often used in the automotive, industrial equipment and agriculture industries. It requires the use of a preform tool, molded in the shape of the finished product, into which resin is injected. Preform tools are placed into a mold cavity in the shape of the desired part, where it enables a composite lay-up process, with the tool then heated to take the shape of the mold. They are typically made with aluminum or epoxy resin.

However, IDEC faced an obstacle in producing the aircraft wing using RTM technology as they required a material with increased resistance to heat and pressure compared to aluminum and epoxy resins. IDEC also needed the actual composite material itself to be heated using an electric current transmitted through the composite fiber. Aluminum is a highly conductive metal that would prevent the electric current from travelling through the fiber effectively. Furthermore, standard epoxy materials available at IDEC did not have the required properties for the unusual application involving the electric current, as it needed to withstand temperatures exceeding 140°C.

Calderón commented “This project required high temperatures of between 150°C and 180°C to heat the fabrics directly, which made Stratasys FDM additive manufacturing and the use of ULTEM™ 1010 resin, in particular, the perfect choice. Although there are epoxy resins resistant to such high temperatures, these are very expensive, and would not have been financially viable.”

Preform tool produced with the Stratasys F900 Production System using ULTEM™ 1010 resin. Photo via Stratasys.
Preform tool produced with the Stratasys F900 Production System using ULTEM™ 1010 resin. Photo via Stratasys.

Wehl & Partner helped IDEC by using itsStratasys F900 Production Systemin tandem with the industrial-gradeULTEM 1010material, a non-conductive and highly-resistant resin, to 3D print a large-scale preform tool. ULTEM 1010 maintains high chemical and heat-resistance, which made it a perfect fit for this specific preform tool, as it was able to withstand temperatures exceeding 150°C. The result was a preform tool with the required mechanical properties to be used in the RTM project.

Calderón added:

“实际上,使用ULTEM™1010树脂,我们通过将电流直接通过复合材料织物流动,将复合加热阶段从一小时减少到只有十分钟。没有Stratasys FDM添加剂制造,这根本是不可能的。”

The preform tool offered perfect mechanical properties to resist high temperatures. Photo via Stratasys.
The preform tool offered perfect mechanical properties to resist high temperatures. Photo via Stratasys.

ULTEM resin conducive to success in aerospace

IDEC and Wehl & Partner are not alone in utilizing ULTEM 3D printing material for manufacturing parts in the aerospace industry. Finnish airlineFinnairpartnered with Belgium 3D printing service providerMaterialiseto manufacture cabin spacer panels usingULTEM material.

Furthermore, French aviation company空中客车has standardized the use ofULTEM 90853D printing material for use in its A350 XWB aircraft, usingStratasys 3D printers.

为了促进使用ULTEM 9085in the 3D printing of interior components for aircrafts, Stratasys recently produced a comprehensive guide on the engineering-grade resin with Ohio-based 3D printing service bureauRapid Prototype+Manufacturing.

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Featured image shows the preform tool produced with the Stratasys F900 Production System using ULTEM™ 1010 resin. Photo via Stratasys.