Metal 3D Printing for the Aerospace Sector Reaches New Heights

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is revolutionizing the aerospace industry. To keep up with growing customer demand, our client Morf3D, a contract additive manufacturing company, now has a new site in Long Beach, California. Planned by Siemens Advanta consultants, it promises higher capacities – and it serves as a blueprint for global scaling.

How to grow a metal 3D printing operation

Want more capacity? Then add more machines! This way of thinking may have worked in the past, but not anymore. Today, it takes careful planning to increase capacities in a highly integrated, digitalized environment such as that of an additive manufacturing facility. As a result, Morf3D was looking for a solution that could be scaled up for the next expansion.

Planning tools and deep domain know-how for excellent results

Over the course of six months, we started by virtually designing the factory using Siemens software, like such as  Tecnomatix Plant Simulation and NX Line Designer. We then tried out different options to find the best configuration. Additionaly helpful was our toolbox of production machines, which currently includes around 50 AM-specific machines, with more being added on a regular basis. The toolbox puts details like machine capacities and installation requirements at the designers’ fingertips so they can quickly select the right equipment for the task at hand.

We also took anticipated developments into account. For example, larger machines were installed so Morf3D could keep up with the trend towards bigger components. Furthermore, the factory was designed to accommodate anticipated growth in the number of alloys. Today, most components are made primarily with only a handful of alloys but in the near future, up to 100 different alloys will likely become the norm.

Morf3D’s production system in Long Beach is now in place, and customers are highly satisfied with the components printed and machined on site. That’s not the yet end of the story. The site is also a blueprint for Morf3D’s next expansion, which could be, for example, a shop in another area for increased customer proximity. 

Morf3D and Siemens Advanta are teaming up to support other companies with their metal 3D printing endeavors and drive the industrialization of additive manufacturing even further. Morf3D brings competence and experience to the table in designing and manufacturing high-quality, complex metal parts. Siemens Advanta contributes its expertise in additive manufacturing factory planning and simulation. The result is unprecedented added value for customers.