In general, 3D printing allows multiple companies in the defence sector to meet different technical and financial challenges.
In fact, governments worldwide encourage the integration of this technology. This is because, among other things, additive manufacturing offers flexibility, speed, and responsiveness from the prototype to the end-use part.
Discover the benefits of using 3D printing to design thermoplastic parts for the defence sector and its potential applications.
In the defence industry, 3D printing is a prime approach for developing and designing complex parts with high mechanical requirements, even with thermoplastics. Here are some examples of how this technology can benefit the defence sector.
The “time” factor is of paramount importance in the defence sector. Delivery must be fast, whether designing parts on demand or producing them in small quantities, developing prototypes, or manufacturing tools. This is all the more true given that this sector is highly competitive and that investments on a global scale are substantial for developing parts. Additive manufacturing proves to be an optimal solution to this requirement since it offers flexibility, agility, and speed of implementation. With 3D printing, the final product can be customized without limitations; there can be many iterations, which can be done quickly and easily.
In addition to achieving productivity requirements, additive manufacturing simplifies the supply chain. By allowing you to produce on demand without having to invest in tooling, it reduces lead times considerably.
Industrial 3D printing thus offers better inventory management by converting traditional inventory into digital inventory for parts that can be printed on demand. Furthermore, consolidating several parts into one also allows you to reduce the number of suppliers and tooling significantly.
Compared to traditional part manufacturing methods in the defence industry, 3D printing can lower overall project costs, depending on the quantities required, because it eliminates the investment in specialized tooling and related costs. It also makes it possible to eliminate certain stages of production, such as assembly, in the case of part consolidation.
The defence sector faces many daily challenges, and needs are changing quickly. Additive manufacturing and its ease of implementation make designing new parts with specific and complex physical and/or geometric properties possible. Their functionalities can be tested quickly, whether as a functional prototype or a proof of concept.
Considering the benefits of additive manufacturing for the defence sector, multiple applications are possible, whether for producing parts in small quantities, developing prototypes, or designing specialized tools.
For some projects in the defence sector, such as aircraft and specialized vehicles, the production volume is certainly lower compared to other areas, such as consumer goods. Hence, 3D printing is perfectly suitable for low-volume production. It can be used to design the following parts:
Innovation is essential to the defence sector, so 3D printing is preferred for developing prototypes and validating their physical and mechanical properties. Here are some examples:
Specializing in industrial 3D printing of thermoplastic parts, Solaxis has all the resources and the structure necessary to meet the requirements and specifications of the defence industry. Our team has developed cutting-edge expertise in this industry, which accounts for a good proportion of our turnover. Here are a few reasons why defence players choose us.
Solaxis stands out for its team of highly qualified engineers and extensive line of state-of-the-art FDM (fused deposition modelling) and SLS (selective laser sintering) printers. This makes meeting the sector's productivity challenges possible, even for big parts.
The defence industry requires large parts that may need to be produced in one piece. This is the case with vehicle panels, large vehicle consoles, etc. Various customers turn to Solaxis to print large parts in a single piece.
Our large-format units effectively maximize the production area and offer great flexibility in terms of improving production. This optimizes your production time and, therefore, your costs.
The components can be assembled for parts for which dimensions exceed the size of the production area.
Military contracts sometimes require ensuring a certain production rate in a required time. Solaxis extensive line of printers allows us to meet large volume demands requested in a contract.
It goes without saying that such technologies offer access to a wide choice of materials, from standard thermoplastics (ASA/ABS, PP) to high-performance thermoplastics (PEKK or ULTEM) as well as technical thermoplastics (PC, PA).
FST standards are often required for end-use parts for military aircraft or even certain military vehicles. Solaxis offers various materials that are FST-certified and meet the following standards:
The tests carried out establish that the FST-certified materials at Solaxis meet the requirements of:
Our infrastructures include a highly equipped laboratory (characterization of materials, mechanical tests, dimensional inspection, etc.). This allows us to double-check the part quality, properties, repeatability, and reliability, which are essential requirements in the defence sector.
For many years, our engineers have used their knowledge, know-how, and expertise to carry out defence, and research and development (R&D) projects. Innovations cover the entire additive manufacturing value chain (materials, processes, quality management, post-treatments, etc.).
Per the ITB (industrial and technological benefits) policy, decision-makers have many advantages when doing business with Solaxis. Indeed, as a Canadian SME with an R&D department, Solaxis meets the program criteria, allowing its customers to benefit from industrial and technological benefits.
Thanks to our expertise in 3D printing, certifications, corporate structure, and project-management methodology, Solaxis has been serving the defence sector for several years.
When it comes to more critical and repeatable parts, a precise and detailed quality control methodology is necessary. This is what allows us to certify and control our manufacturing processes to obtain repeatability in production by producing samples during production and checking certain equipment parameters, such as the humidity level, etc.
Do you work in the defence sector and want to innovate, prove a concept, or produce parts in small quantities? Our team of professionals will be happy to advise you! Contact us.