The Consortium for Additive Manufacturing Analysis and Training (CAMRE) on the Naval Postgraduate Faculty (NPS), has reportedly achieved the primary profitable demonstration of in-flight 3D printing aboard a US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor plane, on 21 June, in Southern California, utilizing the Superior Manufacturing Operational System (AMOS).
CAMRE’s operational demonstration, which concerned the printing of a medical forged aboard an airborne Osprey, was a part of larger-scale train help supplied by CAMRE and the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU) to forces taking part in an built-in coaching train (ITX) at Marine Corps Air Floor Fight Heart Twentynine Palms, California. This profitable take a look at of in-flight additive manufacturing represents a functionality that might show very important for fast response throughout any contested logistics state of affairs.
“We’re in a singular place to quickly help the joint pressure and speed up the adoption of superior manufacturing,” stated Chris Curran, program supervisor at CAMRE. “This is only one of many occasions we’re committing sources to the place we share our analysis and ship tools and know-how to service members.”
The printer utilized within the demonstration, the AMOS, was developed by Spencer Koroly, an engineer at Naval Data Warfare Heart (NIWC) Pacific, in San Diego. AMOS is famend for its velocity, reliability, and expeditionary ruggedness when benchmarked to comparable techniques. “I see this as revolutionary, having the ability to print on the transfer,” stated Koroly. “Nothing is extra expeditionary than printing medical units and swarm robotics behind an plane.”
In the course of the take a look at, the group started with a 3D scan of a Marine’s arm, which was used to create a drawing of a medical forged assisted by generative design software program. The forged itself was then printed whereas the Osprey was engaged in a number of floor and flight modes, together with taxi, takeoff, and in-flight maneuvers.
“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, who serves as a liaison to NPS from the MIU. “Dozens of printers being put in in a modular trend aboard plane brings the power for cellular manufacturing at a scale we have now not skilled earlier than.”
As a part of the ITX, CAMRE introduced collectively working forces from Marine Forces Reserve, I Marine Expeditionary Pressure (MEF), and 3D Marine Plane Wing to show a distributed manufacturing mannequin in a contested logistics surroundings.
CAMRE’s airborne 3D printing demonstration builds upon previous profitable operational demonstrations with the fleet, together with the primary deployment of a 3D liquid metallic printer aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) through the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) train in 2022.
The mission of CAMRE is to ship speedy outcomes to the warfighter, with a concentrate on accelerating expeditionary and home superior manufacturing capabilities for the joint pressure. CAMRE proliferates new capabilities, delivering schooling and certifications to extend the expertise pool for the joint pressure and validating ideas by way of operational workouts.
