America Makes Picks Winners of IMPACT 2.0 Project Call

America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) announce the winners of a $6.6M project call funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program (OSD ManTech). The project call, Improvements in Manufacturing Productivity via Additive Capabilities and Techno-Economic Analysis 2.0 (IMPACT 2.0), consisted of two areas of focus and aims to demonstrate lead time, productivity and yield improvements for casting and forging manufacturing operations using additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, the organizations report.

AM is of significant interest to the U.S. manufacturing base, particularly within the aerospace and defense sectors since the technology enables shorter lead times and reduces part weight—providing benefits to new acquisitions and legacy systems, America Makes reports. As this sector matures, America Makes says it is imperative to establish data-based qualifications and performance standards for widespread use in these extreme environments. The goal of this project is to further establish data-driven methods for applying the best attributes of novel AM metal materials, the organization says.

“For nearly two decades, challenges related to capability and capacity have significantly impacted the U.S. casting and forging industry, creating obstacles in sourcing essential components for critical military equipment and support platforms,” says John Martin, research director at America Makes.

“While many additive manufacturing technologies can enhance casting operations and have proven effective across other sectors of the supply chain, augmenting and scaling these capabilities while testing them in real-world demand situations is essential. The IMPACT 2.0 project call is designed to pinpoint the strengths and limitations of these integrated manufacturing approaches. This initiative will empower our members and project teams to research, develop, and execute cutting-edge solutions in the casting and forging sector, a strategic move to mitigate supply chain risks that pose a threat to both the nation’s defense and economy,” Martin adds.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.