Simply print out your bicycle

3D printing becoming a real thing?

In the spring of 2010 the future of the IT world was pre-outlined at the SolidWorksWorld 2010 in Anaheim, California. A process of particular interest was Rapid Prototyping. It is a process for fast manufacture of sample components on the basis of design data.


Image source: Wikimedia

Rapid prototyping processes are manufacturing processes with the aim of transforming existing CAD data rapidly and directly without any detours into workpieces. The data interface relevant for this process is the STL format. The processes known as rapid prototyping since the 1980s are usually primary forming methods building up the workpiece layer by layer from formless material by using physical and/or chemical effects.



Image source: Wikimedia

An interesting article on this topic by Hod Lipson:

»»» http://spectrum.ieee.org/

Goldhofer themselves on this

"Introduction to the technology

Goldhofer's towbarless aircraft tractors compose a tractor generation which has been developed in collaboration with users and for users under consideration of essential factors such as

* logistics,
* efficiency,
* safety,
* and ecology."


Image source: www.goldhofer.de

Each component has to make its contribution. That also goes for the controller:

"Modern data bus technology

Use of proven digital control engineering from the automative and truck sectors. Reduction of cabling complexity due to a decentralised alignment of standardised CAN bus components, which are common to all Goldhofer aircraft tractors. The Goldhofer control engineering concept, which is programmed "in-house", offers state-of-the-art safety and service convenience, for example, the individual modules can be easily exchanged via pluggable connections, in order to avoid long downtimes of the tractors in the event of any malfunctions."

»»» http://www.goldhofer.de/

What demands does an aircraft tractor make on a controller?

The core competences of the controller should be robustness and long-time stability. The same goes for the controller of the hydraulics (hydrostat and steering) but also for the communication with the diesel engine via J1939 (CAN). Also the option to extend the inputs/outputs via bus system (CAN) and the availability of several CAN lines are criteria to be met. But what about the implementation?