Remote Collaborative 3D Printing - Process Investigation
Abstract
The Remote Collaborative 3D Printing project is a collaboration between Strategic System Programs (SSP), the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), NAVFAC Headquarters Asset Management - Facilities Integrated Product Support (IPS) Program, and the NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (EXWC). The intent of the project was to investigate the end-to-end process of transferring, receiving, manipulating, and printing a digital 3D model into an additively manufactured component. Several digital models were exchanged, and the steps, barriers, workarounds, and results have been documented. As a process investigation, limited analysis was conducted on the actual quality of produced parts, however basic observations on printer settings, power consumption, economics, and material performance were made and documented. In addition to the original models sent for evaluation, several models sourced from online model exchanges and libraries were printed, and process and product lessons-learned were documented. EXWC attempted to take various model files through the process to execute physical prints for models of facilities, equipment, and parts. None of the original files for consideration were able to be completely processed end-to-end from an NMCI computer, due to the lack of available slicing software and limitations on connecting NMCI assets to the 3D printer hardware at EXWC. However, using non-NMCI computing assets, a pier model, SSBN fire extinguisher bracket model, and rope cleat model were successfully printed. The Ohio-replacement submarine was not able be processed for printing with the available tools and software on-hand, however a publicly sourced model of an Ohio class submarine was able to be printed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- ADA636909
Entities
People
- Cody M. Reese
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command