Based on a recently entered partnership with Gravity Industries, the technology supplier in the field of industrial 3D printing of metals and polymers, EOS, introduced a pioneering Jet Suit. Gravity was founded in 2017 with the vision of enabling mankind to fly. The suit of patent-pending technology is aiming at revolutionizing human transport, enabling human flight. It was built using 3D printed parts, specialist electronics, and five jet engines. All components are being developed in an agile and interdisciplinary manner. Full of constant innovation, the suit allows for a 1,000 bhp performance and can fly at a speed of more than 70 km per h.
Gravity’s pioneering flight suit in action (source: Gravity Industries)
Güngör Kara, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at EOS, stresses, “As a pioneer in industrial 3D printing, we share the same spirit of innovating. For the Jet Suit, Gravity needed high quality parts which offer high part stability and reduced weight, as well as enabling constant product iterations and optimization. This is exactly where additive manufacturing comes into play. It offers a true value add, as it can inspire companies to change the way they design and manufacture. In this decade, pushing the limits is a necessity for true innovation.”
EOS and Gravity are cooperating to continuously improve the suit based on design optimizations and subsequent additive manufacturing (AM) of relevant parts. During the joint project, the team was able to achieve substantial cost reductions and a weight reduction of 10 % for the arm mounts by changing from titanium to aluminum material. Design optimizations can be performed very quickly, as such allowing the realization of quick design iterations. Design for AM led to a consolidation from eight to three parts. At the same time, the number of connecting bosses could also be reduced, lowering the risk of failure, according to the companies. Moreover, the new bionic design enables a lightweight connecting structure. All this also allows for a subsequent simplified assembly.
Chief Test Pilot and Founder of Gravity Industries, Richard Browning, states, “For me, innovation comes from courage and from thinking the unthinkable. We are already pushing the boundaries of what is possible today and are creating the future with every day we innovate. AM is substantially supporting us on this exciting journey.”
Image source: EOS
