Beyond Gravity

Encouraging to see the strong engagement and collaborative spirit at the EURO-CIU Workshop and General Assembly in Bucharest on 17–18 April. From my perspective, these gatherings are important—not just for sharing experiences, but for aligning efforts and reinforcing our collective voice across Europe. Inclusion and representation require consistent cooperation, and it’s clear this meeting moved that work forward. Appreciation to Ascultă Viața Association for hosting, and to everyone who contributed to the discussions and outcomes. Looking forward to building on this momentum together.

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝟯𝗗‐𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲? From my experience, no. And that is exactly why it is worth investigating! I have been working on evaluating large‑scale 3D‑printed (LFAM) molds for launcher manufacturing as a flexible alternative to traditional tooling. This work was carried out in close collaboration with Airtech Advanced Materials Group and CEAD Group , combining material, manufacturing, and process expertise to better understand behavior during high‑temperature composite cure cycles. 🔍 Personal key takeaways • Thermal expansion can be significant and may exceed theoretical expectations • Anisotropy plays a major role, as print strategy and fiber orientation strongly influence deformation • Part detachment can occur earlier than expected, highlighting complex interactions between mold and resin • Design adaptations are necessary, since thermal effects must be treated as a primary design input • Compensation strategies require process‑aware simulation models that reflect the actual print strategy rather than relying only on nominal material data 💡 Why it matters For large format additively manufactured tooling, thermal expansion is not a secondary effect but a core design driver. In my view, reliable use in production will depend on predictive models that link how a tool is printed to how it behaves during cure.