Additive Manufacturing Aircraft with Titanium 3D-Printed Parts
Editor: Isabell Page
The XB-1 aircraft contains more than 20 titanium parts from the 3D printer, mainly for critical engine operations in an extremely high temperature environment.
XB-1 will fly with Titanium 3D-printed components, most of which perform critical engine operations. All parts are manufactured on VELO3D’s Sapphire system.
(Source: Boom Supersonic and VELO3D)
The digital manufacturing innovator VELO3D announced that Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 aircraft includes 21 flight hardware components that were manufactured by VELO3D’s Sapphire 3D metal printer. This aircraft marks a turning point in commercial viability for supersonic travel and demonstrates the power of additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, to enable innovation while accelerating product development.
“Aviation hardware is especially difficult to manufacture with 3D metal printing, due to challenging aerodynamic designs that must be balanced with superior durability and high temperature requirements,” said Benny Buller, CEO and Founder of VELO3D . “VELO3D ’s technology allows the production of lightweight, complex designs for mission-critical applications in the toughest operating conditions. Our partnership with Boom is truly an advancement for the metal AM industry, and XB-1 supersonic aircraft is a game-changer for the aviation industry.”
Boom Supersonic and VELO3D announced a partnership in 2019 to manufacture complex flight hardware to build XB-1, and ran a series of qualification trials on VELO3D’s Sapphire system. The printed Titanium parts are used for engine hardware, the environmental control system, and structural components. Characteristics of the geometric designs include tall, thin walls with high aspect ratios, which are inherently difficult to manufacture with either traditional processes such as welding and casting, or even most existing 3D printing technologies. The printing process enables unprecedented design freedom and quality control, eliminating manufacturing constraints to innovation in aircraft design.
XB-1 is the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet. It will be used to demonstrate critical technologies for Overture, Boom’s future commercial airliner, such as advanced carbon-fiber composite construction, computer-optimized high-efficiency aerodynamics, and an efficient supersonic propulsion system. XB-1 is the end-product of years of development effort, including multiple wind tunnel trials, dozens of structural tests, hundreds of simulation iterations, and tens of thousands of work hours.
Unfold for details of your consent
Declaration of consent
Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.
Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes
I consent to NürnbergMesse GmbH, Exhibition Centre, 90471 Nuremberg, including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: NürnbergMesse) and Vogel Communication Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planckstr. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg, including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. I have accessed lists of the respective companies here for Vogel Communications Group
Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.
In case I access protected data on Internet portals of NürnbergMesse including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG or Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access of such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here.
Right of revocation
I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. To declare my revocation I must use this contact form. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the privacy policy, section editorial newsletter.