Have just seen the following article on The Register:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/07/28/sintered_aircraft/
Ok, so it is a touch pricey (£5000), but not so long ago, 3D printing was silly expensive. Then came RepRap and the others.
More information from New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20737-3d-printing-the-worlds-first-printed-plane.html?page=1
I have to say that it looks quite nice too.
Comments
I've been using it for awhile now. Very expensive process though especially if you want big bits like wings!
Awesome ! It will revolutionize our world of small UAV's
Yes, 3D printing is coming!
John, I have a big helicopter cannopy here, printed. Wouldn´t believe it´s possible, when the designer told me... Compared to fiberglass it´s heavier and less robust (the layers of the printing can and do break apart)
But for a prototype is was cheaper in the end then building a classical mold. And thats where I see the market at the moment. Working prototypes.
But there is more to come. I rad that the big companies are working on sintering titanium... Pint your fighter jet :-)
Definitively something for the future. I wonder how it compares to a more traditional wood/fiberglass design in terms of weight and strength.
£17,000 a few years back got you 10"x10"x10" and cost loads to do (iPod dock = £80 material)
£1,000 for rep rap (first built in Bath Uni only 15 minutes from my house) with 10"x10"x10" and £240/km worth of printing.
My friend that does my laser cutting has both the above and his laser but finding valid reasons to use this stuff is harder than it looks. I have access and have only had a few ideas done (and one included the parts for a reprap).
Seriously amazing. Solidworks + Laser 3D printer = never leaving my room again.