NASA, Army Launch Additive Manufacturing Initiative

Army engineer Lance Hall will be assigned to NASA's Additive Manufacturing Lab. Image: U.S. Army

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (ARMDEC) have launched an additive manufacturing initiative to advance additive manufacturing (AM) technology.

The Additive Manufacturing Integrated Product Team will share resources and collaborate on technology development and identifying new AM applications.

ARMDEC is investigating AM for optimizing performance of missile structures, using topology optimization routines to enhance design and analysis of AM-built structures; and characterizing materials and processes for specific missile operations.

"When you come to learn and appreciate the potential of AM, it's hard not to judge this as a true game-changer; one that will ultimately have far reaching, historical impacts onto our society at-large," said acting AMRDEC Director James Lackey.

Both NASA and the Army already have a number of 3D printing initiatives underway, including NASA's plans to install a 3D printer on the International Space Station.

"Additive manufacturing is a step toward the future," said Dr. Dale Thomas, Marshall Center's association director. "It is changing the way organizations design and manufacture products around the world, and space is one of the key places where humanity will see the impact of this technology."

The U.S. Navy's Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), meanwhile, will hold an industry day on additive manufacturing on July 24 in Solomons, MD. The service is interested in R&D demonstrations to help develop a roadmap for AM in the Navy.

The program will cover NAVAIR's manufacturing command goals, the technology development roadmap, qualification and certification strategy, technical data standards development, and logistics IT.

Attendees need to register by June 30. You can find registration information here.

In May, we wrote about the USS Essex, which became the first Navy vessel with a 3D printer on board.

Source: U.S. Army