The Naval Postgraduate College’s Consortium for Additive Manufacturing Analysis and Training (CAMRE) made historical past by efficiently conducting in-flight 3D printing aboard a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor plane on June 21 in Southern California.
This achievement, achieved in collaboration with the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU), concerned printing a medical solid throughout an built-in coaching train (ITX) at Marine Corps Air Floor Fight Heart Twentynine Palms.
The demonstration highlighted the potential of in-flight additive manufacturing in facilitating speedy response throughout difficult logistics eventualities. CAMRE’s program supervisor, Chris Curran, emphasised their dedication to supporting the joint drive and driving the adoption of superior manufacturing applied sciences.
To execute the take a look at, CAMRE labored carefully with MIU and Marine Plane Group 39, together with the help of the “Knightriders” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164. The workforce utilized the Superior Manufacturing Operational System (AMOS), a famend printer identified for its pace, reliability, and ruggedness.
In-flight AM
Through the train, a 3D scan of a Marine’s arm was used to generate a design for a medical solid. The solid was then printed on the Osprey whereas it underwent varied floor and flight modes. Lt. Col. Michael Radigan expressed pleasure concerning the potential of 3D printing in flight, envisioning a future the place a number of printers are put in on plane, enabling cell manufacturing on an unprecedented scale.
CAMRE’s demonstration on the ITX showcased a distributed manufacturing mannequin in a contested logistics surroundings, bringing collectively working forces from Marine Forces Reserve, I Marine Expeditionary Drive, and 3D Marine Plane Wing.
This achievement provides to CAMRE’s monitor report of profitable operational demonstrations, together with the deployment of a 3D liquid steel printer aboard the USS Essex through the Rim of the Pacific train in 2022.
“We’re simply scratching the floor on the capabilities that can come from having the ability to 3D print in flight,” stated Lt. Col. Michael Radigan.
“Dozens of printers being put in in a modular style aboard plane brings the power for cell manufacturing at a scale we’ve got not skilled earlier than.”
CAMRE’s mission is to ship fast outcomes and advance manufacturing capabilities for the joint drive, offering training, certifications, and validating ideas by means of operational workout routines.
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