The 3D steel printer comes on board USS Bataam [Photo: Navsea]
USS Bataan (LHD 5) this month grew to become the primary ship within the Navy to have a steel 3D printer completely put in aboard. The set up advances the Navy efforts to enhance self-sufficiency for deployed ships and their crews and cut back provide chain lead occasions by leveraging additive manufacturing (AM).
The introduction of additive manufacturing (AM) into naval operations helps readiness and self-sufficiency,” stated Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
Additive manufacturing (AM) – extra generally generally known as 3D printing – is the method of becoming a member of supplies to make components from 3D mannequin information, often layer upon layer, versus subtractive manufacturing and formative manufacturing methodologies. Whether creating a high quality of life merchandise or a complicated machine half, AM facilitates manufacturing on the point-of-need when time and operational availability matter.
The gear, put in beneath a joint effort between Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Technology Office, consists of the Phillips Additive Hybrid system, which integrates a Meltio3D laser steel wire deposition head on a Haas TM-1 laptop numerical management mill. The Haas TM-1 platform has been confirmed to function reliably in an afloat atmosphere aboard a number of plane carriers. Integrating the Meltio3D deposition head with the Haas TM-1 offers each an additive and subtractive manufacturing functionality inside the identical system, rising effectivity and decreasing waste compared with typical machining.
The Phillips Additive Hybrid system prints 316L stainless-steel, a fabric prevalent in U.S. Navy ship programs. While stainless-steel additive manufacturing onboard naval ships is new, it additionally marks a step ahead in offering sailors with industrial-level manufacturing capabilities, enabling them to print not extensively obtainable particular person components for programs, avoiding having to obtain your entire system at considerably larger value.
The 3D printer’s advantages are twofold – it really works to maximise operational availability and reduces the demand on conventional and Navy-specific provide chains.
Additionally, NAVSEA engineers put in a second 3D printer to supply polymer (plastic) parts onboard Bataan. This printer permits the ship’s crew to print any of the NAVSEA developed 300+ AM Technical Data Packages that outline the required design configuration and procedures to fabricate a component and guarantee it performs correctly.
“These printers have the ability to help the Navy overcome both obsolescence issues for ships and systems that have service lives measured in decades and directly contribute to enhanced operational availability of our systems and ships,” stated NAVSEA Chief Engineer, Rear Adm. Jason Lloyd.
