Drones, aerospace industry

Revolutionize UAV 3D print with HP Multi Jet Fusion

From prototype to production, achieve unmatched performance, design freedom, and scalability with HP's Additive Manufacturing Solutions

Discover the HP MJF advantages for 3D printing UAVs:

Performance: lightweight strength meets functional design

In drone manufacturing, every gram counts. HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) enables the production of lightweight yet mechanically robust components that can withstand the stresses of flight, vibration, and environmental exposure.

Scalability: from prototype to production without compromise

One of the most powerful aspects of HP MJF is its ability to scale seamlessly. Whether you're producing a single prototype or thousands of end-use parts, HP MJF delivers industrial-grade consistency and high throughput—without the need for tooling or mold changes.

Rapid iteration: accelerating innovation in UAV design

Innovation in the drone industry moves fast—and so should your development process. HP MJF empowers teams to iterate quickly and confidently, using the same materials and processes from concept through production.

Pushing the limits of drone design with ultra-light airframes

Specializing in advanced aerial surveillance and environmental monitoring, The Eye Above aimed to enhance the design of its ground-breaking drones by creating an airframe with ultra-thin walls, structured into cells to achieve an optimal strength-to-weight ratio.

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Aerospace Industry

Applications of 3D Printing in the Aerospace Industry

The integration of 3D printing technology in the aerospace sector brings forth several advantages. These include shortened research and development cycles for new aerospace equipment, improved material utilization, reduced manufacturing costs, and the capacity to repair and shape parts, ultimately extending the service life of aerospace components.

Aerospace manufacturing is integral to incorporating a nation’s state-of-the-art technologies and serves as a key support sector for implementing national strategic plans, thereby influencing political standing. In this context, metal 3D printing technology stands out due to its substantial application benefits and service advantages within the aerospace industry. 

See how UnionTech's metal 3D printing technology is helping the aerospace industry

Aerospace equipment is a symbol of defense capabilities and political influence. To maintain national security, countries prioritize the rapid development of new weapons. UnionTech’s metal 3D printing technologies play a key role in streamlining manufacturing processes and eliminating traditional molds. According to experts from the National Defense University of China (PLA NDU), the integration of UnionTech’s 3D printing and digital solutions reduces the development time for a new fighter jet from 10–20 years to just 3 years. A case in point is the central 3-meter flange for the C919 aircraft, which, thanks to metal 3D printing, was developed in about a month instead of over 2 years.

Aerospace manufacturing relies on expensive raw materials such as titanium and nickel alloys. Traditional methods utilize only 2% to 10% of the material. UnionTech’s industrial metal 3D printing systems achieve over 60% to 90% material utilization, reducing costs and conserving resources. According to data from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the C919 cockpit frame was produced in 55 days using 3D printing, instead of the 2 years and $2 million for molds expected by European manufacturers.

Weight reduction is a key objective for saving fuel and increasing payload. UnionTech’s 3D printing solutions enable the simplification of complex designs, optimal stress distribution, and extended component life. The application of this technology to the landing gear of the F-16 fighter jet provides a service life 2.5 times longer than that of the original part.

UnionTech’s metal 3D printing is also extremely valuable for component repairs. If a blade from a blisk (integrated blade and disk) is damaged, the entire component does not need to be scrapped, saving over 1 million currency units. Layer-by-layer restoration allows the part to return to its original shape with properties that surpass those of the base material.

Traditional manufacturing is suitable for large volumes and simple shapes, while UnionTech’s additive technologies are ideal for complex and specialized components. Combining traditional methods with UnionTech 3D printing yields the fastest and most cost-effective results. Although metal 3D printing still faces challenges for mass production due to high equipment costs, advances in materials and lasers are rapidly making the technology more accessible.

Learn more about UnionTech SLA printers

Applications of Scanology in the Aerospace Industry

The aerospace industry is one of the most critical and demanding industries in the world. It requires intensive planning, development, testing, and manufacturing processes to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. The use of 3D scanning can help improve these processes by providing a more accurate and comprehensive view of the aircraft or component being developed. With this information, manufacturers can identify errors and correct them before they cause problems in the real world. In addition, using 3D scanning for reverse engineering can help recreate obsolete (legacy) parts or create new ones.

Product Development

Virtual Assembly

Our advanced 3D laser scanning help users capture point clouds and create 3D model that can be imported for virtual assembly. Aerospace manufactures can therefore locate the potential problems in time and modify the model accordingly. We provide high-tech 3D scanners to streamline your workflow.

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Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

We offer high-precision 3D measurement technology to ensure the proper operation of the aircraft and the safety of the passengers. SCANOLOGY’s 3D scanning technology is used to obtain 3D data of in-service aircraft to identify hidden errors, deformations, and defects to improve maintenance and repair.