What weighs around 1,650 pounds and is about as long as a large sport utility vehicle? It’s the world’s “largest solid 3-D printed item,” created by Boeing and one of its research partners – and certified by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS.
The record-setting object — which measures 17.5 feet long, 5.5 feet wide and 1.5 feet tall – is a wing trim and drill tool that Boeing will use to build its forthcoming 777X airplane. And it represents Boeing’s latest achievement in 3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing.
The creation of this item “is just an example of what we can do with additive manufacturing,” said Leo Christodoulou, Materials & Manufacturing chief engineer at Boeing. Another way that 3D Printing is making huge developments in Aerospace.
“Additively manufactured tools will save energy, time, labor and production cost and are part of our overall strategy to apply 3-D printing technology in key production areas,” Christodoulou said.
The making of this tool exemplifies the tremendous efficiencies that 3-D printing can generate.
Read the full article here on Boeing’s website
