Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence has been established to design a “build-to-print” functionality aimed toward lengthy lead time components.
While the Navy isn’t about to 3D print out its subsequent era submarines, additive manufacturing know-how has now superior to a stage the place it guarantees to play a key function in rushing the manufacturing of essential components for these vessels.
In one other transfer ahead alongside that path, Austal USA representatives yesterday joined Navy and governmental officers to have fun the opening of the Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) in Danville, Va. The facility will promote progress and resiliency of the Navy’s submarine industrial base by the institution and growth of devoted additive manufacturing and non-destructive testing (NDT) capabilities and different supporting applied sciences.
Austal USA will lead a consortium of additive manufacturing (AM) specialists on the middle, offering program administration and oversight of all developmental and manufacturing efforts. Consortium companions embody Phillips, Industrial Inspection and Analysis, IALR, FasTech, Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, University of Virginia, and The Spectrum Group. Austal USA’s management within the AM CoE follows the corporate’s work with General Dynamics Electric Boat to recapitalize the U.S. nuclear submarine fleet by the development and outfitting of Command and Control Systems Modules and Electronic Deck Modules.
The occasion introduced collectively governmental officers together with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Department of Labor Assistant Secretary James Rodriguez, U.S. Representative Bob Good, Naval Sea Systems Commander, Vice Adm. William J. Galinis, and Program Executive Officer for Strategic Submarines, Rear Adm. Scott Pappano.
“It has been nearly 40 years since the United States recapitalized its ballistic missile submarine capability and infused equivalent volumes and complexity of work into the industrial base. At every level in the Navy’s industrial base … workforce, technology, and the space where those two converge … are an absolute requirement for success,” stated Matt Sermon, government director for PEO Strategic Submarines. “In cutting the ribbon today on the AM CoE, with partners like Austal USA and the other forward-leaning industry and academic leaders paving this path, we are securing our ability to innovate and execute faster and better than our adversaries, and that will be a fundamental differentiator in our future competitive landscape.”
“We recognize the recapitalization of our nation’s nuclear forces is the Navy’s highest acquisition priority and Austal USA is committed to working with our Navy customers and critical industry partners to build a supply chain and industrial base that is resilient, competitive, and sustainable,” stated Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh. “Through our serial production experience and as an advanced manufacturer, I’m confident our team will help build the capacity and capability that will continue to keep our warfighters ready.”
Recognizing the compelling want to extend manufacturing capability throughout the industrial base, the Navy established the AM CoE to design a “build-to-print” functionality aimed toward lengthy lead time components so as to obtain schedule adherence, construct manufacturing reserves, and finally ship Virginia and Columbia-class submarines to the fleet.
To obtain this, the AM CoE will develop certified half recipes that may transition to business for serial manufacturing. A key facet of the CoE is the consolidation of Navy-dedicated printing, NDT, and metrology capabilities beneath one roof. The CoE may also deal with exploiting AM for distributed manufacturing, working to convey new entrants to the submarine industrial base whereas additionally supporting forward-leaning casting foundries trying to undertake AM to bolster their manufacturing quantity.
AM and NDT work will initially be achieved utilizing consortium companions’ in-house capabilities, with manufacturing steadily ramping up on the CoE over the primary 12 months. The CoE will execute end-to-end manufacturing and obtain full operational functionality in late 2023.
The Navy’s AM CoE might be housed throughout the new Center for Manufacturing Advancement on the campus of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, Va. In conjunction with the Department of Defense’s Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program, the AM CoE will present a platform for coaching a talented AM and NDT workforce.
