Aerospace Industry Page 1

NASA has renewed determination to send humans further into space than we could have dreamed. They have developed advanced programs like the Orion capsule and the Space Launch System, but whatever the program the one key step in preparing astronauts for the journey is successful training. 

NASA needed a way to scale down the cost and timing of traditional training while still maintaining its strict quality standards, especially when it involves the exploration of Mars. Mars is a long way away and missions are expected to last months, possibly years. NASA engineers recognized the advantages of immersive environment technology and began using it to create realistic training experiences while running a diverse range of simulations.

This week's Product Story showcases Eviation Aircraft and their use of 3DEXPERIENCE for faster collaboration in the Cloud. 

Eviation Aircraft uses 3DEXPERIENCE through the Cloud to create the world's first all-electric regional commuter aircraft Aviation Alice. Aviation Alice is a plane that holds nine passengers and crew, can travel up to 1000 kilometers per charge, has an all-electric battery and is capable of speeds around 450 kilometers an hour and 40 knots at 10,000 feet. Since they are new to the aviation industry, they wanted to differentiate themselves by by using a holistic approach to development. This was built from the ground up to the electric aircraft. 

It’s STEM Day! In case you are new to this concept, STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The purpose of STEM is to provide young students become familiar with new technologies available and the challenges they pose for the future. Students in STEM classrooms take time to cover significant topics and fun activities in these fields, present ongoing projects or just discuss the importance of these areas in today’s world. In honor of National STEM Day, I want to share a topic that has always been interesting to me, flying. In this blog, I will cover some of the physics and mechanics involved in making things fly and how they can be tested using SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD.

Coming from working in the automotive industry, it is easy for me to see the benefits of the yearly new features and updates the SOLIDWORKS portfolio has to offer. But the automotive industry isn't the only industry that has benefits, such as aerospace. This industry breaks new ground on revolutionary technology, as engineers and designers need a tool that will supplement creative freedom, not curtail it. Both industries have seen major benefits of utilizing a central design platform in the last 30 years, one that allows for design, documentation, validation and production.

Today, quadcopters, more commonly referred to as "Drones," have evolved into many different categories. From Scenic Quads that are GPS controlled, used to capture amazing scenery and widely used for movie/video photography to a $5 toy for an indoor flying session, drones have become instinctively popular. Now with the advancement in 3D printing materials such as thermoplastics in the Stratasys FDM family, for years we have been replacing traditional manufacturing tools and end-use parts.

The aerospace industry is fast moving. Once one challenge gets solved, the market has already changed and moved onto a new trend. This means expensive and time-consuming tooling and production aren't an efficient option. To remain competitive, the aerospace industry leans on additive manufacturing, especially 3D printing with ULTEM materials. Find out why in this blog.

Since the Wright brothers first launched their wood and canvas glider in the early 1900s, technology has improved dramatically, making international travel and space exploration a reality. Additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, is playing a major role in this revolution by reducing weight, strengthening materials and streamlining design in the aerospace industry.