How One Aerospace Supplier Saved Weeks with 3D Printing

Aerospace engineer uses industrial 3D printer to create forming tool and reduce lead time

Reducing Lead Time Pressure in Aerospace Manufacturing

Meeting deadlines in aerospace manufacturing is non-negotiable. A single delay can disrupt programs, trigger costly penalties, or damage hard-earned reputations. For East/West Industries – a supplier of safety-critical seating systems to OEMs like Boeing and for defense contracts – every job must land on time.

So when a critical forming tool was found damaged days before production, they didn’t panic. They printed a new one.

A Broken Tool, a Risky Delay

The project required a complex steel forming die. With their internal CNC machines fully booked and lead times from external suppliers stretching to eight weeks, East/West faced a real risk of missing the customer’s deadline.

Waiting wasn’t an option – and neither was reshuffling the machine shop at the expense of other jobs.

A 3D Printed Die, Ready in Days

Instead of manufacturing a replacement tool conventionally, East/West used their Fortus 450mc™ industrial 3D printer to create a full-size forming die using carbon-fiber-reinforced FDM Nylon 12CF.

  • Lead time cut by 87%
  • Tool ready in less than 1 week
  • Cost reduced by 80% compared to outsourcing

Despite the complex geometry, the printed tool performed flawlessly – eliminating hours of CNC programming and enabling uninterrupted production.

A Smarter Way to Handle Tooling

This wasn’t a lucky workaround. It was the result of a strategic investment in industrial additive manufacturing.

As their business grew, East/West’s CNC shop became a bottleneck – not just for parts, but for internal tooling like soft jaws and fixtures. Rather than buying another CNC machine, they invested in a high-capability 3D printer.

Since then, they’ve used it to:

  • Print soft jaws and workholding tools overnight
  • Produce design validation models for engineers and machinists
  • Check part fit using printed surrogates from customer CAD
  • Create ergonomic aids to improve accessibility for workers

In each case, the Fortus 450mc freed up CNC resources, accelerated delivery, and enabled smarter decisions across departments.

The Result: More Capacity, Less Risk

With additive manufacturing now embedded in their production workflow, East/West can react faster, reduce downtime, and improve first-time quality for their customers. They’re not just printing tools – they’re buying time, reducing risk, and strengthening performance.

Want the Full Breakdown?

The full case study explains how East/West transformed their approach to tooling with additive manufacturing – complete with timelines, cost comparisons, and real production results.

Download the Case Study to learn how they achieved faster turnaround, smarter workflows, and measurable return on investment.

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