3D printing in Australia: helicopter parts, a $2.7M metal project and more
Australia's 3D printing sector is doing real production work now, not just prototypes. Here is what happened this month.
CASA approves 3D-printed helicopter parts
Plane Support has received CASA approval for 3D-printed cabin air-conditioning ducting for the Bell 214B helicopter. The work was developed with McDermott Aviation over almost two years around a Markforged FX10 printer, and it addresses fleet sourcing difficulties for the parts. The approval is an Australian Parts Manufacturer Approval covering specific 214B ducting components, which means the printed parts can be fitted to aircraft in service.
A $2.7M metal 3D printing project
The Additive Manufacturing CRC (AMCRC) announced a four-year, A$2.7M metal additive manufacturing project on 14 October. It is led by Stärke-AMG and Flinders University, with the University of Adelaide and Metal Powder Works, and it puts three Renishaw AM400 systems to work. The focus is defence, maritime and medical components, with an emphasis on traceable, certification-ready workflows rather than one-off demonstrations.
An Adelaide polymer hub
AXT and Stärke-AMG signed a Heads of Agreement on 1 October to deploy a Stratasys SAF H350 at Stärke-AMG's Adelaide facility. The machine is aimed at nylon and polypropylene parts for aerospace, defence and industrial use, adding a polymer production capability to the region's metal printing work.
AML3D lands a US Navy order
AML3D, an Australian wire arc additive manufacturing company, won an initial AU$0.5M order from Austal USA to make 3D-printed production parts for US Navy submarines. It has also joined a three-year aerospace WAM research and development project with a global aerospace prime. Wire arc is a fast, low-cost way to build large metal parts, and it is well suited to the kind of big structures the Navy needs.
RMIT's titanium that floats
Engineers at RMIT in Melbourne have unveiled a 3D-printed titanium lattice structure that floats on water even after severe damage. It is a research result rather than a product, but it shows what additive manufacturing can do with geometry that would be impossible to machine.
What it means
The through-line this month is that Australian additive manufacturing is maturing: certified aircraft parts, multi-year metal projects, polymer production and defence work. That is a good sign for anyone who needs a part made, because the local supply base and the materials available to it keep getting stronger. When you are ready to print something, get a price or see what we work with.
Source: 3DPrint.com (AMPulse Asia), 3Dnatives.