Airbus Files for Patent Which May Lead to 3D Printed Airplanes

This week French civilian aerospace developer Airbus filed a patent for a new 3D printing process that could revolutionize large-scale manufacturing and even lead to the ability to 3D print entire airplanes. The process relies on considerable materials knowledge and leverages how the freshly 3D printed items will respond to the internal stresses that occur while they are cooling. The stresses that would be intentionally introduced into the parts actually add more stability and structural support. For instance, the floor panels of an airplane's cargo bay could be engineered to actually become more stable as more weight is placed on top of them. You can read more at 3DPrint.com: https://3dprint.com/135561/airbus-patent-airplanes/
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