Survey Copter
Survey Copter
The news has been droning on about...well… drones for some time now, Obama gets asked about them in every single interview, they are at the forefront of every political journalist's mind when it comes to modern warfare. But can there be good drones?
French company Survey Copter say their drones, which are essentially remote control helicopters, are used to all manner of tasks from investigating natural disaster sites, surveying marine pollution areas to mundane but essential tasks like counting livestock or land mapping.
The expanding company, which is a subsidiary of the aerospace giants European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. are investing heavily in 3D printing by purchasing two different Stratasys machines; a Stratasys Dimension Elite 3D Printer and a Stratasys Fortus 400mc 3D Production System.
The company intends to use the printers to make prototype and short-run component parts for mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems more commonly know as Drones.
"Effectively meeting our 3D printing needs can only be achieved via machines that are capable of producing quality parts with high reliability," said Jean Marc Masenelli, Survey Copter’s managing director.
Masenelli said the ability to use different materials according to specific application needs offers key advantages for producing durable 3D printed parts.
Such materials include FDM thermoplastics polycarbonate, ABS and high performance ULTEM 9085, which boasts superior strength and lightweight properties and has an FST (flame, smoke and toxicity) rating, particularly valued within the aerospace and transportation industries.
"The Stratasys 3D Printer can produce parts with complex shapes - for us a highly sought after requirement and a principle differentiator that sets Stratasys' proposition apart from that of other providers," he said. "This specific capability enables us to produce parts of wide-ranging dimensions and hollow forms, as well as full honeycomb structures."
