3D Printing

How to meet aerospace need for repeatable manufacturing of high quality interior parts

Hong Kong-based Western Tool & Mold (WTM) serves the aerospace interiors market where airlines demand quick turnaround of replacement parts to improve supply chain efficiency. The unique geometries of individual components, however, can make meeting this requirement a challenge. The company’s engineers’ solution was to use a Fortus 900mc Aircraft Interiors Certification edition from Stratasys, an additive machine specifically designed to product aircraft cabin components. In addition, these components must meet stringent FAA and EASA certification requirements.

Scott Sevcik, Head of Aerospace, Defense and Automotive Solutions, Stratasys (on left) congratulates Collin Wilkerson, Managing Director, Western Tool & Mold on his company’s purchase of the Stratasys Fortus 900mc Aircraft Interiors Certification Solution (Photo: Business Wire)

“Adding the Stratasys Fortus 900mc to our extensive arsenal of Stratasys FDM and PolyJet-based 3D Printing Solutions not only gives us the opportunity to provide repeatable, certified aircraft parts to tier 1 and tier 2 aircraft parts suppliers but also the accompanying documentation process is now automated – making it easier to meet evolving industry quality standards while freeing up more time to invest in production,” said Collin Wilkerson, Managing Director, Western Tool & Mold. “The Stratasys Aircraft Interiors Certification Solution will allow us to work with our customers early in their design and development process and help us be more agile than our competition in responding to customer requests.”

The Fortus 900mc Aircraft Interiors Certification Solution consists of ULTEM 9085 resin, which is a strong, lightweight thermoplastic meeting aerospace flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) regulations (FAR 25.863), and a new edition of the Fortus 900mc Production 3D Printer with specialized hardware and software designed to deliver highly repeatable mechanical properties.

Western Tool & Mold is now using the Stratasys technology to 3D print aircraft cabin parts with complex geometries and low quantity demand such as first-class overhead bin lockers and lavatory components. By 3D printing these parts directly from CAD designs, bypassing metal manufacturing processes, WTM’s customers can test parts early in the design process and save hundreds of thousands of dollars in manufacturing costs.

Stratasys Ltd.
www.stratasys.com