Construction and Manufacturing

Construction and Manufacturing

04 June 2019

3D printing of high performance polymers for Industry & SME’s

Royal NLR and Ultimaker start collaboration on printing high performance (fibre) reinforced polymers. NLR’s Smart Industry field lab for Automated Composites, Metal Manufacturing and Maintenance ACM3, supports companies in the development of lightweight systems made of composite materials and/or metal. Additive manufacturing of high performance metals and polymers is one of the key areas ACM3 is focusing on.

Optimised hydraulic manifolds
Construction and Manufacturing

24 May 2019

Large-scale application of metal additive manufacturing

NLR began its first four-year public-private partnership project in 2014 for 3D printing in metal, also known as ‘metal additive manufacturing’. We are now four years further and we know a lot more. A new programme, primarily focusing on certification of new components, started in March 2019.

Construction and Manufacturing

31 October 2017

Contactless and high rotational speed sensor data transmission

A maintenance-free, fast-rotating measuring system for a wind tunnel model capable of handling 8400 rpm. No such system existed yet, although it was required back in 2013 to conduct measurements with the wind tunnel model for the Z-08 Counter-Rotating Open Rotor (CROR), a next-generation concept for sustainable engines that can significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. To address this, NLR developed a highly advanced measuring system with a Contactless Rotating Power and Data Transfer (CRPDT) module, for which it has now been granted a patent. With the CRPDT module, NLR has cleared the way for ever higher rotational speeds, not only for wind tunnel models but also for airborne on-board applications.

Construction and Manufacturing

31 May 2017

Automated Composite Manufacturing Pilot Plant

The Automated Composite Manufacturing Pilot Plant (ACM Pilot Plant) is a manufacturing plant for composite aircraft components. The plant produces composite landing gear components while also developing new manufacturing techniques for high performance composites. Other high-tech companies that develop composites can also use the facility for testing their materials and automating production processes.