Airbus is integrating 3D printed parts into its aircraft manufacturing process, focusing on a technique called wire-directed energy deposition (w-DED).
The w-DED method enables the creation of large structural titanium components (over 23 feet long), allows for more agile design, and significantly reduces material waste compared to traditional forging.
W-DED produced parts are already being integrated into the cargo door surround area of the Airbus A350, with ongoing experimentation planned for further applications and production strategies.
The European aerospace giant is investigating a particular type of 3D printing known as wire-directed energy deposition, or w-DED. The method allows for more agile design and construction and cuts down on material waste, Airbus said this week.
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Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
