Machine Design – May 2019

3D Printing Trends

and with tensile strength over 9 kips it

is strong enough to replace metal. The

high stiffness-to-weight ratio of FDM

Nylon 12CF is ideal for functional per-

formance testing demands in automo-

tive, aerospace, recreational goods, and

industrial manufacturing sectors.

ULTIMAKER IN AN INDUSTRIAL

ENVIRONMENT

Ultimaker is often categorized as a

hobbyist printer. However, like Strata-

sys, industry are using the printers for

tooling, fixtures, and ergonomics. One

example of desktop 3D printing being

used at scale today can be found at

Volkswagen Autoeuropa, a VW plant

in Portugal that produces 100,000 cars

per year and specializes in engineering

innovations and new models.

Using a group of desktop 3D printers,

the VW manufacturing plant produced

1,000 tools last in 2016—including

gauges, jigs, and fixtures. Printing on-

demand in the plant, as opposed to out-

sourcing, reduced tool development by

95%, and saved 90% in production costs.

Recently, Ultimaker’s portfolio was

selected by Airbus for 3D printing in

Europe. The market for 3D printing

technology and materials in aerospace

is expected to increase to $531.1M by

2024, according to Frost & Sullivan.

From manufacturing aids and pro-

totypes to end-use parts, desktop 3D

printers are enabling organizations like

Airbus and Royal Netherlands Airforce

to innovate on the fly while preparing

the workforce for tomorrow (regardless

of technical acumen).

Airbus will mainly use the Ultimaker

portfolio for the direct, local production

of tools, jigs, and fixtures, and printing

lightweight design parts with compos-

ite materials. But why not a large more

expensive that might offer more fea-

tures?

Ultimaker was selected by Airbus

because of its ease of use, reliable results,

and open technology, which meets the

stringent requirements the aerospace

industry. In addition, Ultimaker’s open-

source software Cura works so well

some competing printer manufactures

use it to run their printer.

According to a recent Frost & Sullivan

report, the global 3D printing materi-

als market for the aerospace industry

is expected to reach $535.1 million by

2024. Airbus has historically embraced
      3D printing, and the partnership with
      Ultimaker further underscores their
      commitment to further utilizing 3D
      printing within their factories.
      “We are very proud that Airbus select-
      ed Ultimaker. Strict rules regarding safe-
      ty and certifications can make manufac-
      turing and model-making workflows
      complicated, especially for engineers in
      the aerospace industry,” says Jos Burger,
      CEO at Ultimaker. “I am glad that our
      certified solution and the possibility to
      print with composite materials, enables
      these engineers to keep innovating. The
      team at Airbus can fully rely on our ded-
      icated global sales and partner network
      for full support.”

FORD AND CARBON

Recently at the 2019 North Ameri-

can International Auto Show, Carbon

68 MAY 2019 MACHINE DESIGN

The S5 released in 2018 offers a bigger build

area and other features that show Ultimaker

is aiming to move into more industrial appli-

cations.