Additive Manufacturing in Army Aviation Critical Applications, the Future or Now?
Abstract
The Department of Defense Additive Manufacturing Strategy (2021) and the Army Directive 2019-29 (2019) (Enabling readiness and modernization through advanced manufacturing) show that the military is working to integrate additive manufacturing into military systems. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore advances in additive manufacturing technologies to assess the feasibility of additive manufactured part utilization in critical safety applications on Army rotary wing aircraft. This study provides an overview of the qualification process for critical safety items for Army aircraft, a review of DoD and Army policies for additive manufacturing, a detailed explanation of the Powder Bed Fusion and Directed Energy Disposition additive manufacturing processes, and review of a case study. Additive manufacturing technologies require tight material and process controls as well as significant qualification inspection and testing to support critical safety applications for Army aviation. However, additive manufacturing technology has matured to a point where the technology is ready now to produce high quality complex rotary wing parts for critical applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 23, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1201829
Entities
People
- Bradley R. Welch
Organizations
- Defense Acquisition University