The number of manufacturers seriously considering additive manufacturing is large. Stratasys has lowered the threshold for adopting this technology in an effort to entice these companies to add direct digital production to their capabilities.
The additive process that grew out of ultrasonic welding provides an efficient way to produce complex work, including parts with embedded components and even parts made from dissimilar metals.
Lockheed Martin expects to reduce titanium part-production costs for the F-35 fighter by applying this additive manufacturing technology in place of forging.
Reduce cost, reduce weight—to the extent that additive
manufacturing can do these things, it represents a promising
method for making aircraft parts. While important constraints
currently prevent additive manufacturing from seeing
more widespread use in aircraft production, these constraints
might not be what you think. Here is a look at additive
manufacturing within Boeing.
When this company was solely an injection molder, job quantities had to be large. Now, with additive manufacturing, any quantity is right. The company's role and its range of customers have both expanded.