First 3D printed hydraulic manifold successfully flies on Airbus A380 aircraft 3D Printing Processes
The road to 3D printed, safety-critical flying parts is a long and intricate one, however the benefits on the horizon are enough to justify years and years of man-hours in research and testing. Eventually, even the most complex projects reach a moment when they repay for all the efforts. The fully 3D printed hydraulic spoiler manifold that on March 30th flew on Airbus’ Number 1 A380 is one of those moments. Peter Sander, VP and Head of the Emerging Technologies & Concepts Germany – one of the key figures behind it – reveals what this means for AM and for the aerospace industry as whole in this exclusive interview.