Boom Supersonic Rolls Out XB-1 Aircraft with VELO 3D Flight Hardware Components
October 7, 2020 | Business WireEstimated reading time: 1 minute
VELO3D, an innovator in digital manufacturing, today announced that Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 aircraft includes 21 flight hardware components that were manufactured by VELO3D’s Sapphire 3D metal printer. Unveiled at Boom’s hangar in Centennial, Colorado, XB-1 marks a turning point in commercial viability for supersonic travel and demonstrates the power of additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, to enable innovation while accelerating product development.
“Aviation hardware is especially difficult to manufacture with 3D metal printing, due to challenging aerodynamic designs that must be balanced with superior durability and high temperature requirements,” said Benny Buller, CEO and Founder of VELO3D. “VELO3D’s technology allows the production of lightweight, complex designs for mission-critical applications in the toughest operating conditions. Our partnership with Boom is truly an advancement for the metal AM industry, and XB-1 supersonic aircraft is a game-changer for the aviation industry.”
Boom Supersonic and VELO3D announced a partnership in 2019 to manufacture complex flight hardware to build XB-1, and ran a series of qualification trials on VELO3D’s Sapphire system. The printed Titanium parts are used for engine hardware, the environmental control system, and structural components. Characteristics of the geometric designs include tall, thin walls with high aspect ratios, which are inherently difficult to manufacture with either traditional processes such as welding and casting, or even most existing 3D-printing technologies. VELO3D’s unique SupportFree printing process enables unprecedented design freedom and quality control, eliminating manufacturing constraints to innovation in aircraft design. Read more about the collaboration with Boom Supersonic here.
"We strongly believe that supersonic is the future of flight and we’re appreciative of VELO3D in helping us to realize this goal with XB-1," states Mike Jagemann, Head of XB-1 Production at Boom Supersonic.
XB-1 is the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet. It will be used to demonstrate critical technologies for Overture, Boom’s future commercial airliner, such as advanced carbon-fiber composite construction, computer-optimized high-efficiency aerodynamics, and an efficient supersonic propulsion system. XB-1 is the end-product of years of development effort, including multiple wind tunnel trials, dozens of structural tests, hundreds of simulation iterations, and tens of thousands of work hours.
Suggested Items
PCB Market Size to Grow by $29.06B from 2024-2028
05/17/2024 | PRNewswireThe global printed circuit board (PCB) market size is estimated to grow by USD 29.06 bn from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 6.6% during the forecast period.
Terran Orbital Joins the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA)
05/16/2024 | BUSINESS WIRETerran Orbital Corporation, a global leader in satellite-based solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, announced its membership in the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA).
Raytheon-Kongsberg System is Proving Itself – In Demos and In Combat
05/16/2024 | Raytheon TechnologiesOn a rocky island off the coast of Norway, Michael Sadlowski watched as a surface-to-air missile launcher pointed up into a dark nighttime sky.
Un-Jammable Quantum Tech Takes Flight to Boost UK’s Resilience Against Hostile Actors
05/13/2024 | BUSINESS WIREOSI Systems Receives Order for $9 Million to Provide Cargo and Vehicle Inspection Systems
05/13/2024 | BUSINESS WIREOSI Systems, Inc. announced that its Security division received an order from an international customer for approximately $9 million to provide the Company’s Eagle® M60 high energy mobile cargo and vehicle inspection systems including related service and support.