Friday, 5 August 2011

World's First Working 3-D Printed Aircraft

Engineers at the University of Southampton in the UK have designed, printed, and sent skyward the world's first aircraft manufactured almost entirely via 3-D printing technology. The UAV - dubbed SULSA (Southampton University Laser Sintered Aircraft) - is powered by an electric motor that is pretty much the only part of the aircraft not created via additive manufacturing methods.

SULSA boasts a 6.5-foot wingspan, a top speed of about 100 miles per hour, and is nearly silent while cruising. Created on an EOS EOSINT P730 nylon laser sintering machine, its wings, hatches, and control surfaces - was custom printed to snap together. It requires no fasteners and no tools to assemble.

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