CityAirbus NextGen will be equipped with a tailored version of the MAGiDRIVE.

Airbus has selected MAGicALL to supply the motors of the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft CityAirbus NextGen. Airbus’ eVTOL prototype will be equipped with a tailored version of the MAGiDRIVE, the newest generation of electric motors manufactured by MAGicALL.

The detailed customization of CityAirbus NextGen’s electric propulsion system will enable the prototype to benefit from features that will match its unique design, making for increased performance, and reliability. The lightweight brushless motors that will be integrated into CityAirbus NextGen are a product of innovative design and manufacturing: they incorporate the latest generation of MAGicALL’s magnetics and power electronics technology.

Joerg P. Mueller, Airbus’ Head of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), said: “We are proud to benefit from the experience of MAGicALL to develop the electric propulsion system of CityAirbus NextGen. The electric motors are a major component of our prototype: the high torque and low weight of the MAGiDRIVE as well as its robust design will be highly beneficial for the overall efficiency of the aircraft.”

The electric motors will also contribute to the seamless architecture of Airbus’ eVTOL prototype, thanks to a fully integrated solution comprising both the motor itself and its control system, as part of a fully enclosed, air-cooled propulsion unit.

MAGicALL is a leading supplier of electric motors based in California. Founded in 2004, the company benefits from a proven expertise in custom magnetic and power electronic solutions for the aerospace industry. MAGicALL also contributed to the development of the motors that powered Airbus’ tilt-wing UAM technological demonstrator, Vahana.

Since 2014, Airbus has been exploring how electric propulsion can help drive the development of new kinds of aerial vehicles. In September 2021, the Company unveiled its fully electric eVTOL prototype, CityAirbus NextGen. Airbus is developing a UAM solution with eVTOLs not only to offer a new mobility service but also as an important step in its quest to reduce emissions in aviation across its product range.

Marks important milestone in U.S. Type Certification process.

German drone delivery pioneer Wingcopter announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued the Special Class Airworthiness Criteria for the Wingcopter 198 US unmanned aircraft. This approval marks a critical milestone in the certification process of Wingcopter’s flagship eVTOL delivery drone in the U.S.

With the airworthiness criteria, the FAA defines technological requirements under title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), § 21.17(b) that must be met to have an aircraft type-certified for regular commercial operations in the U.S.

Besides its efficient design for commercial and humanitarian delivery missions, the Wingcopter 198 was engineered from the ground up to meet stringent safety standards. In the development, Wingcopter was able to leverage the operational experience of more than five years with the company’s first delivery drone type in various geographical settings, from the Arctic to the Middle Eastern desert and from remote islands in the South Pacific to San Diego Bay in the U.S.

Since applying for the Special Class Type Certificate in March 2020, Wingcopter has collaborated closely with the FAA. The issuance allows Wingcopter to focus its development efforts even more on what the FAA deems necessary for this particular aircraft to receive certification quickly and efficiently.

“We are proud to be among the first delivery drone companies worldwide to ever get their Airworthiness Criteria approved by the FAA. This is a very important milestone for us, not only in our Type Certification Process in the U.S., but also for our international expansion efforts and for achieving our vision of building logistical highways in the sky. I would like to thank my team as well as the FAA for all the effort and great collaboration to reach this milestone”, says Tom Plümmer, co-founder and CEO of Wingcopter.

Once type-certified, Wingcopter will be able to fly conventional routes through airspace and over populated areas, ultimately providing the basis for scaling commercial drone delivery operations across the U.S. that will help save and improve lives. The certification is expected to also have a positive impact on Wingcopter’s further certification efforts such as with ANAC in Brazil or JCAB in Japan.

Thanks to its patented tilt-rotor mechanism and software algorithms, the Wingcopter 198 can take off and land vertically like a multicopter, while flying long distances as efficiently and quickly as a fixed-wing aircraft, even in rain and strong winds.

At Booth #7029 at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California May 23-25.

GROB Systems will be highlighting its 5-Axis Universal Milling and Mill-Turn Machining Centers and automation solutions including linear and rotary pallet storage systems, at Space Tech Expo Booth #7029 at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California, May 23-25, 2022. GROB personnel will be available for attendees to discuss their applications, and videos running on a continuous loop will show a broad range of machining applications in action.

GROB’s G-Series, which includes the G150, G350, G550, and G750 5-Axis Universal Machining Centers, are suited for the space and aerospace industries and are capable of milling parts made of diverse, challenging materials. Each machining center features a compact design and optimized work area access and is capable of maximum milling performance.

GROB 5-Axis Access-Series Machining Centers, which include models G350a and G550a, offer economy as well as fully featured technology to meet demanding application requirements. The machines feature a rigid spindle axis, efficient machine cooling and a unique overhead function with excellent chip evacuation and reduced thermal load in the part.

GROB 5-Axis Turning Centers, including the G350T, G550T, and G750T models, are capable of machining a part by milling and turning in a single clamping, saving time, floor space, and investment.

Attendees can also learn about the PSS-L linear pallet storage system, which is suited as a modular system for individual machines or for interlinking the same machining systems. Up to five machine tools can be connected to a pallet storage racking system with a maximum of 87 pallet positions, significantly increasing machine utilization and productivity with longer unmanned periods. Similar to its sister system, the PSS-R rotary pallet storage system offers optimum entry into automated, highly efficient production with a small footprint. It is equipped with three design versions per machine, with up to 15 pallet storage positions at one to three levels. The PSS-R has a high storage capacity and offers an easily accessible setup station next to the machine control panel, which can be rotated and locked.

Join us May 26 at 12PM ET to hear insights from Open Mind Technologies USA and Heidenhain.

When you register for our May Manufacturing Lunch + Learn event you will gain new insight about today’s manufacturing technology.

The first session is presented by Open Mind Technologies USA featuring Account Manager Kevin Lewis and Application Engineer Uday Honnalagere. The two will be discussing intelligent “best fit” CAM process for alignment and machining of 3D printed stock. Additive/3D printed material used in manufacturing applications are witnessing high growth worldwide in a broad range of industries. Historically, for components that need finish machining after AM, the alignment on the machine tool requires high expertise, expense in setup time, and can have inconsistent results. This is due to the challenge in alignment of the NC program to the real-world conditions presented by the clamping position of the irregular material on the machine tool. Intelligent part alignment integrated in the CAM system offers a solution to this problem by efficiently adapting the virtual (NC program) to the real world (location of the stock on the machine). A “best fit” CAM process offers a quick, predictable, and reliable path to overcome this challenge in a way that eliminates the requirement for specialist knowledge, reduces setup time and eliminates waste.

The second presentation is from John Parker, MT business development and product manager at Heidenhain. Parker will be discussing new CNCS manufactured in the U.S. – MILLPWR an TURNPWR.

MILLPWR a powerful yet easy to operate CNC retrofit systems for knee mills and bed mills. Faster set-ups, shorter run times and a major boost in productivity are just one "powerful easy" retrofit away. Our new MILLPWRG2 control and retrofit kits can turn just about any knee mill into a powerhouse money-maker.

TURNPWR is a workshop-oriented turning control that enables the user to program conventional machining operations right at the machine. It is designed for turning machine tools with up to two axes. TURNPWR was developed to satisfy the wants and needs of lathe machinists where manual and automated operation are both useful and needed. TURNPWR promises to enable the user to maximize throughput by significantly reducing setup time, scrap, and other non-productive operations.

Register today so you aren’t left behind the competition.

Nordic Aviation Capital will convert up to 10 of its fleet of E190s and E195s to freighter aircraft.

Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) is a launch lessor for Embraer’s E-Jet P2F – Passenger-to-Freighter – program announced in March 2022. NAC, the world’s largest regional aircraft lessor, will convert up to 10 of its fleet of E190s and E195s to freighter aircraft.

The E190F and E195F are sized for new revenue-generating opportunities. The E-Jet Freighters will have over 50% more volumetric capacity, 3x the range of large cargo turboprops, and up to 30% lower operating costs than narrowbodies.

The conversions will be completed at Embraer’s facilities in Brazil. NAC’s first P2F E-Jet is scheduled for delivery in 2024.