Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the center of technology in design, development, manufacturing, integration of aerospace systems, modernization and after sales support in Turkey, has revealed that it has purchased the world's largest metal electron beam - EBAM 3D printer, the EBAM 300 Series from the U.S-based company Sciaky.
The company purchased the EBAM 3D Printer for use in the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) Project because the world's largest printer can 3D print 6-meter-long titanium aircraft parts.
A large number of titanium parts will be used in Turkey's largest defence industry project, the National Combat Aircraft (MMU). TAI will use an EBAM 3D printer and a vacuum to create a 5x7 meter titanium piece.
The National Combat Aircraft is expected to fly for the first time in 2025 or 2026, enter the Turkish Air Force Command's inventory in 2029, and achieve initial operational capability by the early 2030s.
The contract between TAI and Sciaky calls for collaboration on a variety of projects aimed at optimizing TAI's use of EBAM machinery and technology.
TAI's Kahramankazan facilities will have a 3D printer capable of printing parts up to 6 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 1.8 meters high. The 3D printer can quickly switch to an Electron Beam Welder for large-scale welding operations (EBW).
“EBAM 3D printer systems are the world's best-selling, large-scale metal 3D printers with parts approved for land, sea, air, and aerospace applications.”
- Scott Phillips, President of Sciaky Company
Turkish Aerospace Inc. is the country's technological hub for design, development, manufacturing, aerospace system integration, modernization, and after-sales support.
The Turkish Aerospace Production Plant in Ankara spans 5 million square meters and includes a 150,000-square-meter industrial structure. The company operates a sophisticated aircraft facility outfitted with cutting-edge machinery and equipment that allows it to perform a wide range of production tasks such as part fabrication, aircraft assembly, flight testing, and delivery.
In 2010, Turkish Aerospace employed approximately 1,500 engineers, with over 850 of them working as research and development engineers on military research projects.
