Stratasys 3D-printed aircraft parts to help Boom Supersonic break sound barrier
PARIS AIR SHOW.Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, and Boom Supersonic have formed a technical partnership to bring the commercial airline industry one step closer to routine supersonic travel. Aimed at shaping the future of high-speed aviation, the three-year agreement is intended to help Boom accelerate production of advanced tooling and production-grade aircraft parts based on Stratasys FDM 3D printing technology.
Additive manufacturing enables unmatched design freedom and production speed of Boom's XB-1 supersonic demonstrator (Photo: Business Wire)
Boom plans for the first flight of its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator to take place next year, by leveraging the design freedom, production speed, and heightened cost efficiencies of additive manufacturing. The company is deploying Stratasys FDM-based Fortus 450mc and F370 3D Printers, designed to produce on-demand parts leveraging production-grade thermoplastics, as well as advanced manufacturing tools that perform even under aviation’s most challenging environments.
Boom’s supersonic airliner will fly 2.6 times faster than any other aircraft on the market today. Accelerating to 1,451 miles per hour, the planes could reduce typical New York to London flight times of seven hours to just over three hours.
“Supersonic flight has existed for over 50 years, but the technology hasn’t existed to make it affordable for routine commercial travel. Today’s significant advances in aerodynamics, engine design, additive manufacturing, and carbon fiber composite materials are transforming the industry at all levels. Additive manufacturing helps accelerate development of a new generation of aircraft,” says Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom. “With a proven track-record of success across aviation and aerospace, Stratasys now becomes a key catalyst in our design and production processes – helping to transform the future of aviation through the power of 3D printing.”
The agreement will allow Boom to leverage Stratasys 3D printing solutions, materials and expert services. The 3D printing solutions will advance speed, cost savings and performance across critical engineering and manufacturing processes at its headquarters in Denver, Colorado.
“Boom is working towards a major breakthrough in supersonic, commercial airline travel - and we’re excited Stratasys is now playing a strategic role in helping them achieve their goals. We are proud to add Boom Supersonic to a roster of leading aerospace companies successfully implementing our additive manufacturing solutions to deliver new innovations in aviation,” says Rich Garrity, president of Americas for Stratasys. “Stratasys’ engineering-grade, high-efficiency 3D printing solutions are perfectly suited for producing the complex part designs and custom manufacturing tools this industry demands.”
At the Paris Air Show on June 19 - 25, Boom Supersonic and Stratasys are jointly exploring the many ways additive manufacturing is shaping the future of aerospace.
Boom Supersonic is a Denver-based startup dedicated to removing the barriers to experiencing the planet, starting by building a Mach 2.2 airliner economical enough to operate with business-class fares. Boom is backed by venture capital from firms such as 8VC, RRE, Lightbank, Y Combinator, and Caffeinated Capital, as well as angel investors including Sam Altman, Paul Graham, and Greg McAdoo.
For nearly 30 years, Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) has been a defining force in 3D printing and additive manufacturing, shaping the way things are made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, the company empowers customers across vertical markets, including Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare, Education, and Consumer Products, by enabling new approaches for design and manufacturing. Stratasys solutions offer design freedom and manufacturing flexibility, reducing time-to-market and lowering development costs, while improving products and communication. Subsidiaries include MakerBot, Solidscape, and Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, which offers 3D printed parts on demand. The company also offers Expert Services in North America, and the Thingiverse and GrabCAD communities, with 4.5 million free, 3D printable design files. Stratasys has 1,200 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents and has received more than 30 technology and leadership awards.
Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.