3D Printing for Aerospace

Resources

Leading aerospace OEMs, MROs and eVTOLs work with us to produce flight-ready parts. With these resources discover what goes into successful applications of 3D printing in aerospace, built on the experience of our customers and our own experts.

3DP&Me

Opinion leaders in aerospace sharing their views on 3DP

In our 3DP&Me series, we talk to the experts and innovators at the forefront of the aerospace sector to explore the special relationship these individuals have with all things additive.

INTERVIEW

“We’re very fast and very careful. Which is very hard.”

The team at eVTOL start-up LIFT Aircraft talks about its radical mission: to democratize flight

Read the interview chevron_right

The case(s) for 3D printing in aerospace

A painted white overhead storage compartment panel, designed by Airbus and 3D-printed by Materialise, showing bionic designed in

CASE STUDY

Airbus Gets on Board with 3D Printing

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Black color dyed parts 3D printed in PA 2241 FR

CASE STUDY

Lighter, Faster, Cheaper: Manufacturing Flight-Ready Parts for 328 Support Services

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The cross-section of a 3D printed titanium satellite inserts showing the lightweight structures within

CASE STUDY

Titanium Inserts for Spacecraft: 66% Lighter with Metal 3D Printing

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Computer screen showing additive manufacturing software as used by Avio Aero, a GE Additive company, to manufacture aircraft par

CASE STUDY

Avio Aero Thinks Additive

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Machine operator from Aero Avio opening an Arcam EBM machine

CASE STUDY

How Materialise Software Solutions Helped to Create the World’s Largest Jet Engine

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A small bracket used to join aircraft panels, 3D-printed in titanium, with lightweight latticed portions

CASE STUDY

A 63% Lighter Titanium Aerospace Part

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Frequently asked questions

  • Aerospace & Aeronautics
  • Which additive manufacturing services for aerospace do you offer?

    We offer certified manufacturing for aerospace applications, prototyping, advanced software, and a broad range of consultancy services.

  • Which software solutions do you offer for aerospace manufacturing?

    We offer software solutions to support aerospace manufacturers in Design for AM, post-topology optimization, AM process control, and AM production management.

  • Do you design aerospace parts for additive manufacturing?

    We are not aerospace design engineers, but we can support your teams in designing aircraft parts with AM in mind, making full use of the design freedoms and other opportunities the technology offers.

  • What types of consultancy services do you offer for aerospace additive manufacturing?

    Our consultancy services, by Materialise Mindware, range from early-stage innovation and applied R&D support, to testing and validation, prototyping, design for AM guidance, application development and certification, building business cases, and AM roadmap development.

  • Are you limited to specific 3D print technologies or materials?

    In principle, we offer the full range of technologies and materials. However, easy availability of processes for aerospace is limited to certified processes. We can advise on process and material selection and help achieve certification of a new process if needed.

  • Which geographical markets do you serve?

    We are the world’s most comprehensive providers of additive manufacturing services. While our core manufacturing capacity is situated in Europe, we serve the global aerospace industry and can support you locally.

  • Which accreditations and certifications do you hold?

    We are one of the few providers of additive manufacturing services certified to Airbus AIPI standards. We also offer services to Form 1 accreditation according to EASA Part 21.G as well as EN9100-certified manufacturing. For a complete overview of our certifications and quality policy, please visit our Quality page.

  • Can you support and advise on the qualification of new additive manufacturing processes for aerospace applications?

    Yes, we support aerospace companies in qualifying new processes where needed.

Whitepapers

Airplane in flight with plane wing in foreground and low sun near the horizon

WHITEPAPER

Sourcing Low-Criticality Parts for Aircraft: The Additive Manufacturing Opportunity for Aerospace Supply Chain Management

PDF, 10 pages - 3.45 MB

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The cross-section of a 3D printed titanium satellite inserts showing the lightweight structures within

WHITEPAPER

'Buy-to-Fly' Ratio Cutting Costs with Metal 3D printing

PDF, 13 pages - 3.13 MB

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Featured stories

Belgian Federal Mobility Policy Chief Emmanuelle Vandamme looking at an FDM printer during a visit at Materialise

ARTICLE

Belgian Mobility Policy Chief E. Vandamme Visits Materialise

June 29, 2021

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A person painting Airbus spacer panel

ARTICLE

Unleashing the Potential of AM for Low-Criticality Aircraft Parts

June 15, 2021

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Dado panel visible at bottom of aircraft cabin wall

ARTICLE

Expleo Makes Flight-Ready Spare Parts Smarter with AM

May 31, 2021

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Airbus cabin panels being 3D printed in a Materialise printer

ARTICLE

30 Years of Innovation: Stable and Durable FDM Is Ideal for Aerospace

November 2, 2020

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