FDM speeds prototyping of aerospace parts

摘要

Helicopter manufacturer, Bell prefers the fused deposition modelling rapid prototyping process, which builds parts in high performance thermoplastics, for its functional prototype building programme on the Osprey project. Bell Helicopter manufactures the heavy-lift 'tilt-rotor' Osprey, a hybrid aircraft that combines features of both fixed wing and helicopter. It can lift off, hover and land vertically, yet it can cruise at high altitudes at jet speeds. When the aircraft recently underwent an experimental tail-wiring upgrade, technicians at the Bell XWorx rapid prototyping (RP) laboratory used Stratasys' fused deposition modelling (FDM) to build tough polycarbonate wiring conduits. The branching conduits in six mating sections were installed inside the Osprey's twin vertical stabilisers for ground-based wiring tests.