Major US aerospace group reports significant advance in 3D printing technology

Major US aerospace and defence group Northrop Grumman has reported that it has made a significant advance in the additive manufacturing (AM, also called 3D printing) production of carbon/carbon composite materials for use in high-temperature aerospace and defence applications. Northrop Grumman’s process is allowing the company to AM continuous fibre composites at a large scale, which it says is “unprecedented’ in AM. “We are pioneering a rapid fabrication process that does not require tooling to manufacture aerospace-grade, continuous fibre integrated composite structures,” stated Northrop Grumman Weapon Systems VP and GM Dan Olson. “This manufacturing advancement will deliver capability to the field much faster than traditional methods, and ensures our warfighters have the latest technology and advanced weapons to counter both existing and future threats.”