In China, at 9:00 a.m. on July 12th, 2023, the Landspace ZQ-2 Y2 rocket successfully entered its designated orbit, marking the launch mission a complete success. Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) played a pivotal role by providing extensive metal additive manufacturing support for the development of critical components in the rocket.
As we know, traditional subtractive manufacturing methods fall short of meeting the precise technical requirements needed for developing rocket components, especially engines. LandSpace Technology Corporation, a leading Chinese company in the field of aerospace transportation system development and operation, has thus embraced AM principles to better align with the specific technical needs arising from design and development. This approach has led to reduced weight, cost savings, expedited production, and shorter delivery cycle times – with BLT serving as a dependable supplier of AM parts and technologies.
BLT’s product team carried out an in-depth analysis of the service conditions for the parts and chose materials such as superalloys and stainless steel for the ZQ-2 Y2 rocket. In accordance with the requirements for dimensional characteristics, mechanical properties, and other factors, the company utilized machines like the BLT-S310 and BLT-S400 – the most advanced selective laser melting (SLM) machines offered by BLT – for production. These mid-format metal AM machines from BLT enhance material utilization and enable weight reduction. These machines meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry with their high quality, efficiency, and stability. They can work with a variety of materials, including titanium alloys, superalloys, aluminum alloys, stainless steel, high-strength steel, and tool steel.
The BLT-S310, certified by Airbus, boasts a maximum build dimension of 250mm×250mm×400mm. Parts produced by the BLT-S310 meet Airbus’s civil aviation component installation requirements in terms of performance. On the other hand, the BLT-S400 is mainly used for aerospace industry applications, supporting mass production of aerospace components. It offers a larger build dimension than the BLT-S310, with dimensions of up to 400mm×250mm×400mm.
With vast experience in the aerospace sector, BLT leverages its metal 3D printing technology to produce parts that not only fulfill performance requirements but also enable the crafting of intricate structures and optimization. This capability significantly reduces prototyping and validation time, improves efficiency, and facilitates weight reduction.