The next time you fly, look around the aircraft cabin and guess how many of the parts are 3D printed. Or why wait? Get out your VR goggles and take this virtual tour of an aircraft interior and aircraft manufacturing facility to see all the ways additive manufacturing is impacting aircraft interiors.

It features two new examples of game-changing additive manufacturing technology: the Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator and the Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator from Stratasys.

The Infinite-Build 3D Demonstrator is designed to address the demands of aerospace, automotive and other industries for large, lightweight thermoplastic parts with repeatable mechanical properties. It features a revolutionary approach to FDM extrusion that increases throughput and repeatability. The system turns the traditional 3D printer concept on its side to realize an “infinite-build” approach which prints on a vertical plane for practically unlimited part size in the build direction.

The Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator combines Stratasys advanced extrusion technologies with Siemens’ Motion Control hardware and PLM software. It’s designed to revolutionize the 3D printing of composite parts for transportation industries like Automotive and Aerospace, plus Oil & Gas and Medical applications. The Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrator uses a unique 8-axis motion system that enables precise, directional material placement for strength while also reducing dramatically the need for speed-hindering support strategies.

This redefines how future lightweight parts will be built, and provides a glimpse into how this technology could be used to accelerate the production of parts made from a wide variety of materials.