Breakthrough Composites Manufacturing - Large Scale, High Volume, Low-Cost
Energizing the future
We need sustainable energy to secure our future. Continuous fiber additive manufacturing on-site is essential to reducing emissions and cost to expand renewable energy technologies.
Our collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Maine will advance on-site, high-throughput manufacturing of wind blades with large-scale continuous fiber additive manufacturing via a $4 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
What can we 3D print today?
Accessories & Repair Parts
Prototype and iterate designs fast (at a rate an order of magnitude faster than traditional desktop printers) and scale to large-scale, high-volume manufacturing.
Tooling & Molds
The larger and more complex the part, the more cost-effective it becomes to use Orbital’s robotic systems. At robotic speeds, our 3D printers pay for themselves by making just a few tools or molds.
Printing an LEP Part
This is a “Leading Edge Protection” (LEP) part for a wind turbine blade that we printed with our Orb 1. The part has been infilled with 3M Wind Epoxy Filler W3120 for damage repair & smooth leading edge & surface finish.
Did you know?
Wind blades are the single largest user of carbon fiber in the world.
Ship the factory, not the blade.
Reduce blade costs and footprints by cutting transportation expenses. Our robotic 3D printers can be brought to wind farms and blades can be custom printed on-site based on its environment.
The Department of Energy (DOE) considers on-site manufacturing a fundamental breakthrough needed for maximum takeup of wind power
Wind energy may demand carbon fiber, but what’s the demand for wind?
Worldwide wind capacity is forecasted to triple by 2030 and grow fivefold by 2050.
Our ultimate vision
Learn more.
We’ll answer any more questions you have.