ESA Awards Siemens, Sonaca Additive Manufacturing Contract

Photo: Siemens

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Siemens Digital Industries Software to develop aerospace design applications for metal additive manufacturing. The applications will leverage Siemens’ end-to-end software solution for industrial additive manufacturing that combines generative engineering, topology optimization, predictive analytics, process simulation, build preparation, and production execution.

The two-year long project, named Design4AM, is built on a collaboration between Siemens and Sonaca, with financial support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (Belspo). The Design4AM project will result in a validated process for using Siemens’ comprehensive additive manufacturing software to design and produce highly optimized, light-weighted structural parts for space applications, such as, among others, fittings (structurally bonded to CFRP panel), supports, and bipods for improved performance and cost.

“The Siemens and Sonaca partnership combines the power of a leading additive manufacturing software solution with the expertise from a leading aerospace manufacturer,” said Pedro Romero Fernandez, Sonaca General Manager Space BU. “With our deep aerospace knowledge and Siemens’ software technologies such as generative design, automated topology optimization and additive manufacturing process simulation, engineers will be able to explore hundreds of design options in a fraction of the normal time, then virtually test them against a variety of physical conditions to arrive at the best design solution for their performance requirements that 3D print correctly the first time.”