Additive manufacturing of the fuel tank end frame

The production cycle of the technological sample of the fuel tank end frame has been completed! Although the sample is technological, it is very, very close to what will be in the flight product.

The frame blank was produced by additive technology (it also included the torus part of the bottom). Then the frame blank was scanned and milled out according to the obtained digital model, removing the excess thickness and preparing the joining surfaces. After that, this frame was connected to the cylindrical shell by friction-stir welding.