CAMRE’s operational demonstration, which concerned the printing of a medical solid aboard an airborne Osprey, was a part of larger-scale train help offered by CAMRE and the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU) to forces collaborating in an built-in coaching train (ITX) at Marine Corps Air Floor Fight Heart Twentynine Palms, Calif., from June 10-22.
This profitable take a look at of in-flight additive manufacturing represents a functionality which might show important for fast response throughout any contested logistics state of affairs.
“We’re in a novel place to quickly help the joint drive 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 assets to the place we share our analysis and ship gear and know-how to servicemembers.”
CAMRE labored in collaboration with the MIU and Marine Plane Group (MAG) 39 from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., to arrange the demonstration. The flight was performed with the help of Marines and plane from the “Knightriders” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164, commanded by Lt. Col. Casey Nelson.
The printer utilized within the demonstration, the Superior Manufacturing Operational System (AMOS), was developed by Spencer Koroly, an engineer at Naval Info Warfare Heart (NIWC) Pacific in San Diego. AMOS is famend for its pace, reliability and expeditionary ruggedness when benchmarked to comparable methods.
“I see this as revolutionary, having the ability to print on the transfer,” Koroly stated. “Nothing is extra expeditionary than printing medical units and swarm robotics behind an plane.”
Throughout the take a look at, the workforce started with a 3D scan of a Marine’s arm, which was used to create a drawing of a medical solid assisted by generative design software program. The solid 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 flexibility for cell manufacturing at a scale now we have not skilled earlier than.”
As a part of the ITX, CAMRE introduced collectively working forces from Marine Forces Reserve, I Marine Expeditionary Drive (MEF) and 3d Marine Plane Wing to exhibit a distributed manufacturing mannequin in a contested logistics setting.
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) in the course of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) train in 2022.
The mission of CAMRE is to ship instant outcomes to the warfighter, with a concentrate on accelerating expeditionary and home superior manufacturing capabilities for the joint drive. CAMRE proliferates new capabilities, delivering schooling and certifications to extend the expertise pool for the joint drive and validating ideas by way of operational workouts.
The Naval Postgraduate Faculty offers defense-focused graduate schooling, together with labeled research and interdisciplinary analysis, to advance the operational effectiveness, technological management and warfighting benefit of the naval service. For extra info, go to NPS on-line at https://nps.edu.
