Supported by the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the strategy has been established to help the UK aerospace sector capitalise on the additive manufacturing market, which is expected to reach £10bn by 2033.
The Sapphire 1MZ, which has a 315 Ø x 1mm build envelope, will be used to identify and validate best practices related to performance-based qualification of additively manufactured parts for airframe applications.
The Supernova Defense & Space business unit will seek to address the perceived limitations of traditional manufacturing processes when being used to produced applications such as Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs).
The company will use Forecast3D's MJF capacity to manufacture parts primarily for its First-Person View drones, which are known for their demanding performance and durability requirements.
3DCERAM will also become a partner of NASA, as the organisation leverages the printer to make samples for small and larger pieces of new materials. These materials will be tested in space and other relative extreme environments.
Making the announcement at Farnborough Air Show, the company, which offers launch services for small satellites, will leverage Altair HyperWorks design and simulation software.
