Home Industry AMNOW Program: Additively manufactured hardware undergoes flight test on operational aircraft

AMNOW Program: Additively manufactured hardware undergoes flight test on operational aircraft

Two additively manufactured cargo links were installed on two operational MH-47G aircraft at Fort Campbell, KY in support of an extended flight test program. The cargo links were manufactured from a high-strength aluminum alloy 7A77 under NCDMM’s AMNOW program and represent the first Army-developed metallic AM aircraft parts to be flown on Army aircraft. In addition to the AMNOW program team and the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)

Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), key suppliers on the team include:

  • 7A77 powder treated and supplied by HRL of Malibu, CA
  • Printing by Beehive Industries (formerly Volunteer Aerospace) of Knoxville, TN
  • Machining and finishing by Penn United Technologies of Cabot, PA
  • Material testing by Product Evaluation Systems of Latrobe, PA
  • Radiographic inspection by Pinnacle Industrial X-ray Laboratory of Suwanee, GA

The AMNOW program team consists of: NCDMM, The Barnes Global Advisors, Youngstown Business Incubator, Catalyst Connection, LECS Energy, Quotient, Advanced Engineering Solutions, GCA Coach, and the University of Alabama-Huntsville.

About the AMNOW program

The AMNOW program is a tested to develop and validate a prototype digital additive manufacturing supply chain for the U.S. Army and its DoD contractors. Multiple U.S. Army component manufacturing projects will be conducted to demonstrate the benefits of a digitally connected AM supply chain. Ultimately, the creation and integration of the digital AM supply chain will aid the rapid transfer of manufacturing process information to be exchanged between the U.S. Army and its suppliers and to accelerate AM on-demand production of critical parts.

The program is executed by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC). The DEVCOM AvMC mission is to develop, integrate, demonstrate, and sustain aviation and missile systems capabilities to support modernization priorities and improve readiness.

For more information about NCDMM, visit www.ncdmm.org.


Subscribe to our Newsletter

3DPResso is a weekly newsletter that links to the most exciting global stories from the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry.

Privacy Policy*
 

You can find the privacy policy for the newsletter here. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time. For further questions, you can contact us here.