Britain tests first aircraft that uses 3D printed parts
7 Jan 2014 7:37 AM IST
England-based BAE Systems confirmed on Monday that some of the components used to build the fighter aircraft were nothing but simple printouts using 3D technology.
The British aerospace company flew the aircraft, Tornado, from its airstrip at Warton in Lancashire in December.
Producing parts using 3D printing technology will not only cut down production costs but also greatly reduce the maintenance cost of the machines.
Royal Air Force said that using 3D printing tech to produce parts will cut down maintenance and service bills by £1.2m over a span of four years.
Britain’s Home Office has confirmed it will not ban 3D printers. Fears have been raised over usage of 3D technology, after in the US, more than 100,000 plans for a plastic gun were downloaded within hours.
BAE engineers have now started to manufacture the parts for four squadrons of Tornado GR4 aircraft at RAF’s Marham airbase in Norfolk. The breakthrough has ensured that some parts will cost less below £100.
The British aerospace company flew the aircraft, Tornado, from its airstrip at Warton in Lancashire in December.
Producing parts using 3D printing technology will not only cut down production costs but also greatly reduce the maintenance cost of the machines.
Royal Air Force said that using 3D printing tech to produce parts will cut down maintenance and service bills by £1.2m over a span of four years.
Britain’s Home Office has confirmed it will not ban 3D printers. Fears have been raised over usage of 3D technology, after in the US, more than 100,000 plans for a plastic gun were downloaded within hours.
BAE engineers have now started to manufacture the parts for four squadrons of Tornado GR4 aircraft at RAF’s Marham airbase in Norfolk. The breakthrough has ensured that some parts will cost less below £100.
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