Press Releases

Rapid Manufactoring Quickly Makes a Difference

Aerospace and Defense Manuufactoring 2008 James D. Sawyer Senior Editor Laser sintering has simplified the relationship between Northwest UAV Propulsion systems (NWUAV) and a major customer, Insitu Inc. Insitu buys propulsion systems from NWUAV for use in the unmanned aerial vehicles it manufactures.

Before acquiring a plastics laser-sintering machine early in 2008, NWUAV (McMinnville, OR) manufactured the cylinder-head temperature controllers, cooling shrouds, heat exchangers, fuel tanks, and air intakes for the propulsion systems by sanding and otherwise finishing rough pieces it ordered from an outside vendor. Now with an EOS SOSINT P 390 on premises, Norhtwest takes the parts from powder to product. By taking these parts in house, NWUAV has reduced its supply chain and infrastucture costs such as storage, inventory, and part inspection. In addition, it is now able to deliver product to Insitu (Bingen, WA) on a just-in-time-basis.

Given the growth in demand for UAVs from the US military, any steps that can streamline production are welcome. The Department of Defense has increased its portfolio of the aircraft from about 200 in 2001 to better than 5000 today. Throw in the likelihood that UAVs will be adapted eventually to civilian use, and quicker, more cost-effective ways of building them will be even more welcome. Direct Digital Manufacturing techniques such as laser sintering are one of the ways that speed up can be accomplished.

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EOS ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF LASER-SINTERING EQUIPMENT BY NORTHWEST UAV PROPULSION SYSTEMS

EOSINT P 390 MEETS TIGHT TOLERANCES FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURE Krailling, Germany, and Novi, MI, June 11th, 2008: Unmanned aerial vehicle (left) from Insitu, Inc., features laser-sintered plasic parts that Northwest UAV Propulsion systems manufactures with its EOSINT P 390 plastics laser-sintering machine (right). Pictures courtesy of Insitu Inc., Bingen WA, and Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems, McMinnville, OR

EOS of North America, Inc., the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems, today announced that Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems (NWUAV), an aerospace supplier, has purchased an EOSINT P 390 plastics laser-sintering machine. Northwest is using the equipment to produce high-quality aircraft components, including SLS nylon parts for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

NWUAV manufactures complex cylinder head temperature controllers, cylinder head shrouds and a variety of other parts for UAVs from Insitu, Inc., at a rate of 4600 parts a year. “Our greatest concern is meeting the tight tolerances and consistent quality that aircraft designs require,” says Chris Harris, president of NWUAV. “The EOSINT P 390 provides us with consistent, uniform, high-quality production parts that eliminate the need for secondary finishing operations such as sanding.”

With assistance and training from EOS technicians, NWUAV was able to go from installation to part production on the P 390 in just ten days. An essential step in the process was fine-tuning the laser speed, offset and wattage to meet design criteria within 0.001.

Previously, NWUAV ordered the nylon parts from an outside vendor and performed sanding and other finishing processes on them. Purchasing the P 390 and manufacturing the parts in-house has reduced the company's supply chain and infrastructure costs such as part inspection, inventory, and storage. Northwest is now able to supply the components just-in-time and implement design changes with a couple of days versus weeks.

“The use of rapid manufacturing is booming in the aerospace industry,” says Jim Fendrick, vice president of EOS North America. “This growth continues to be driven by the ingenuity and innovation of industry leaders such as Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems.”

RP: EOS delivers plastics sintering machine to aerospace firm

By Modern Plastics Editorial Staff

Laser-sintering system supplier EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems has sold an EOSINT P 390 plastics laser-sintering machine to aerospace supplier Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems (NWUAV) for the production of aircraft components, including PA 2201 and PrimePart DC parts for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). EOS offered NWUAV training on the new machine so that it was able to go from installation to part production on the P 390 in 10 days. The company had ordered the parts from an outside vendor, but it says the machine’s accuracy, with the ability to meet design criteria within .001-inch, makes inhouse production viable. In addition, the company says the new machine has reduced supply chain and infrastructure costs, including part inspection, inventory, and storage, and adding the machine means components can be supplied on a just-in-time basis with design changes in a couple of days versus weeks.
ModPlas.com