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Additive Manufacturing for Aerospace Prototyping

Accelerating Aerospace Prototyping with Industrial 3D Printing Solutions

Client Overview

A tier-1 aerospace component supplier working with global aircraft manufacturers. The client needed faster turnaround for functional prototypes and lightweight custom parts for wind tunnel testing, often constrained by traditional CNC and casting methods.

Our Approach

Qematic performed a Time and Motion Study Audit on prototype creation, tooling changeovers, and R&D iteration loops. This identified major bottlenecks in traditional manufacturing methods and justified 3D printing adoption.

Key activities:

  • Selection of metal and polymer 3D printing technologies
  • Optimization of CAD models for generative design
  • Deployment of in-house industrial AM units
  • Integration of simulation tools to validate stress/load behavior

Challenge

The client faced several production and R&D hurdles:

Additive Manufacturing

Business

India

Location

Key pain points included:

  • Long lead times (6–10 weeks) for prototype tooling
  • High cost for low-volume complex parts
  • Limited design flexibility for weight optimization
  • Frequent design changes during wind tunnel validation
  • Material waste and high inventory holding costs

Solutions Delivered

Advanced Metal & Polymer 3D Printing Deployment

Installed SLM, FDM, and SLA printers for rapid production of metal and plastic aerospace parts.

Design Optimization & Simulation Integration

Enabled generative design and stress validation using CAD tools and ANSYS simulation workflows.

Automated Print Scheduling & Post-Print Tracking

Implemented smart print queue automation with RFID tagging for monitoring and traceability.

On-Demand Prototyping & Reverse Engineering Hub

Built an agile print farm supporting fast prototyping, batch runs, and legacy part recreation.

Technologies Used

Business Impact / Results

The move to additive manufacturing unlocked substantial value:

0 %
faster prototype delivery
0 %
cost savings on complex low-volume parts
0 %
average weight reduction in airframe brackets
0 %
Inventory levels dropped by with print-on-demand setup

What Our Clients Say

Key Highlights (Summary Box)

Metric Before Implementation After Implementation
Prototype Turnaround 6–10 weeks <2 weeks
Cost per Complex Prototype ~$800 ~$320
Weight Reduction Capability Limited Up to 20%
Design Iteration Time High, tooling-dependent Rapid, tool-less
On-demand Manufacturing Flexibility Low Fully enabled
Qematic
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