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Additive Manufacturing for Space Exploration

3D printing is changing the game in the new space race

Additive Manufacturing plays an increasingly important role in space technology. The technology enables the creation of complex parts and structures that would be difficult or impossible to manufacture using traditional methods, making it well-suited for space applications where weight and size constraints are critical.

Overall, Additive Manufacturing offers several benefits for space technology, including cost savings, weight reduction, on-demand manufacturing, and parts consolidation. Typical 3D printed space applications include rocket components, satellite parts, and heat exchangers.

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Airbus and Oerlikon sign €3.8 million contract for the industrial additive manufacturing of satellite components

Oerlikon AM and Airbus have successfully industrialized the additive manufacturing (AM) process for complex serial production of antenna clusters. These will be used in a series of communication satellites that will be orbiting earth soon. This marks an important milestone in the ten-year collaboration between both companies in an area requiring absolute accuracy and has resulted in a €3.8 million contract to additively manufacture these satellite components.

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ArianeGroup and Oerlikon Sign Order for the Production of Additively Manufactured Parts for Ariane 6 Rocket

Oerlikon AM and ArianeGroup signed an order worth up to €900,000 for the production of 3D-printed heat exchanger sets for the new Ariane 6 rocket launcher. The Ariane 6 launcher is a strategic vector for European space access, bringing satellites and high-tech payloads into orbit several times per year. The successful cooperation with ArianeGroup is another important milestone for Oerlikon as it consolidates its position as a recognized supplier of AM parts to space companies.

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Why choose Oerlikon AM as your partner?

The Oerlikon AM Team includes specialists with strong backgrounds in aerospace and defense. With them we provide:

  • AS9100, ITAR registered, full spectrum AM capabilities for quality control and traceability, and affordability, with powder atomization, R&D, and production all delivered in-house
  • Aerospace specific Applications Engineering with focus on areas like Generative Design/Lightweighting, highly customized parts, weld elimination, reverse engineering and replacement of obsolete parts
  • Support for material and component qualification
  • Collaboration Opportunities: Material development, data set/ design allowables generation, R&D, application engineering, series production and prototypes
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