I saw this article on CNET – interesting and amusing at the same time, about a concept for 3D printing an airplane. I was particularly amused by the Star Trek material.
Along with regulations, finding the right materials is proving a challenge. The concept plane that Airbus has designed for the printing method contains materials that are currently not commercially available → including transparent aluminumum > for the fuselage, specific biopolymers and other materials which have to be strengthened through carbon nanotubes to become fully functional.
Whoa, that aluminum material is crazy! What 3D printer are they using though to do these airplane parts? Chances are it isn’t actually a ‘printer’ but an SLA/SLS machine.