Case Study: Sogeclair achieves 30% lighter aircraft doors with ExOne 3D-printed PMMA casting patterns

Sogeclair builds aircraft doors 30% lighter with ExOne

The French aviation supplier Sogeclair faced the challenge of creating large, lightweight aircraft door components, which are difficult and expensive to produce with direct metal 3D printing. They partnered with ExOne (through its voxeljet division) to utilize 3D-printed PMMA patterns for investment casting.

ExOne implemented a solution using its VX1000 3D printing system to produce large, precise PMMA casting patterns that enabled complex, bionic geometries. This allowed Sogeclair to create aircraft doors that were 30% lighter while maintaining strength, achieving significant weight savings in a fast and cost-efficient prototyping and production process.

Sogeclair