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Saab Demos 3D-Printed Fighter Aircraft Component

3D-printed Gripen part
3D-printed Gripen part

Saab flew a Gripen multirole fighter jet that includes a 3D-printed replacement hatch during a March 19 trial aimed to demonstrate the use of additive manufacturing technology to accelerate combat aircraft repairs.

The company said Tuesday it replicated the original hatch using a PA2200 nylon polymer and a 3D printer as part of efforts to understand how the process could help maintenance personnel fix aircraft parts that were damaged while operating in remote missions.

“Post-flight initial inspection of the hatch was very positive and showed no visual structural changes had occurred from the flight," said Hakan Stake, contract manager for Gripen C/D support at Saab.

Stake's project team plans to explore flexible materials that could serve as a substitute for PA2200 and withstand a high-altitude temperature. The group also seeks to develop a printing equipment container for deployment efforts.

Saab is a founding member of the AMEXCI consortium and works with other manufacturing companies to determine additive manufacturing applications across the technology production process.

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Written by Matthew Nelson

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