JPG PDF PNG ? zip

PES Media

  • Articles
    • News
    • Features
    • Products
  • Video
  • Magazine
    • Digital Editions
    • Subcontractor Sourcing Guide
    • Latest Newsletter
    • Editorial Programme
    • Search Engine
  • Literature
  • Events
  • Associations
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • Editorial Programme 2020
    • Media Pack 2021
    • Rates & Specs
  • Contact Us

BAE Systems installs Stratasys 3D printer in Samlesbury

15 July 2020 • In News
BAE Systems installs Stratasys 3D printer in Samlesbury

BAE Systems has added a fourth Stratasys F900 3D Printer to its manufacturing site in Samlesbury in a continued effort to reduce costs and improve production agility.

Along with its existing F900 line-up, the latest installation will run around the clock as an integral part of BAE’s transformative ‘factory of the future’ initiative, a cutting-edge facility in Lancashire which brings together the latest advances in technology and manufacturing to work seamlessly with human operators in a first-of-its-kind, fully connected way.

Stratasys industrial-grade FDM additive manufacturing is used across aircraft ground equipment operations for a wide range of applications spanning space models and design verification prototypes, manufacturing tools such as jigs and fixtures, and final end-use parts.

According to BAE Systems, use of additive manufacturing across these applications is making production more flexible, faster and helping to reduce costs. When using its F900 3D Printers to manufacture production tools, the company says that it is witnessing ‘significant cost and lead time reductions’ against those of traditional manufacturing methods.

BAE Systems’ latest F900 installation will not only increase 3D printing capacity, but also help exploit new materials for tooling applications. This includes carbon-fibre-filled FDM Nylon 12CF material, which is used to create robust yet lightweight repair and development tools for the production line.

According to Greg Flanagan, additive manufacturing operations lead, BAE Systems Air, FDM-based 3D printing technology in particular offers an opportunity to decrease the up-front cost of tooling for new products. This is especially so with items such as drill tools, repair tools and other development tools that are often needed in small numbers.

“This technology allows us to innovate many of our traditional manufacturing processes,” he said. “We can rapidly 3D print one-off parts for new products, replace tools more easily and cost-effectively, and maintain production operations when hardware is delayed. If supply chains become disrupted, having this production power in-house also enables us to be more agile as a business and continue to best serve the needs of our customers.”

BAE Systems also has found great success in identifying traditionally manufactured applications that can be enhanced, or in some cases replaced, with high-performance 3D printing materials.

This includes utilising durable thermoplastic materials for a range of aircraft ground equipment, such as cockpit floor covers for the Typhoon fighter aircraft.

BAE Systems
www.baesystems.com

Michael Tyrrell

Author

Michael Tyrrell
Digital Coordinator

Tags

BAE Systems Stratasys Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Aerospace Industry

Share This Article

Tweet

Share

Share

Share

Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter

Related Articles

BAE Systems, Safran, Babcock join accelerator programme

1 week ago Michael Tyrrell
news

BAE Systems to recruit record number of apprentices and graduates

1 month ago Michael Tyrrell
news

BAE Systems wins £2.4bn munitions contract

2 months ago Michael Tyrrell
news

Most recent Articles

Manufacturers urged to have their say on life after Brexit

2 days ago Michael Tyrrell
news

Applications open for growth programme for UK manufacturing

2 days ago Michael Tyrrell
news

Whitehouse Machine Tools appoints sales and marketing director

3 days ago Dave Tudor
news

Share This Article

Tweet

Share

Share

Share

Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter

Subcontractor Sourcing Guide 2021

Subscribe to our FREE Media Network

INFORMATION

    • Contact Us
    • Privacy
    • Cookie Policy

CATEGORIES

  • Features (2,601)
  • Literature (174)
  • News (5,455)
  • Products (1,457)
  • Video (591)

TAGS

  • extraction
  • Hi-Spec Precision
  • euchner
  • Gas
  • Broanmain Plastics

OUR OTHER MAGAZINES

Aerospace Manufacturing Logo Composites in Manufacturing Logo

CONTACT INFORMATION

  • PES Magazine
  • MIT Publishing
  • Featherstone House
  • 375 High Street
  • Rochester
  • Kent
  • ME1 1DA
01634 830566

Back To Top

1998 - 2021 © MIT Publishing
Site designed & developed by TJC