TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. —
The College of Oklahoma formally opened the Sooner Superior Manufacturing Lab throughout a grand opening occasion attended by authorities, navy and protection business leaders held Nov. 28.
This facility represents a big development within the partnership between the Oklahoma Aerospace Protection Innovation Initiative, by way of the Workplace of the Vice President for Analysis and Partnerships on the College of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Metropolis Air Logistics Complicated on Tinker Air Pressure Base, Oklahoma.
“This partnership permits us to make the most of their analysis upfront manufacturing for our manufacturing benefit to essentially deliver within the subsequent wave of technically proficient workforce centered on manufacturing,” stated Brig. Gen. Brian Moore, Oklahoma Metropolis Air Logistics Complicated commander.
The OC-ALC is the biggest Upkeep Restore and Overhaul facility within the Division of Protection. Utilized analysis from the Sooner lab will help developments of the OC-ALC’s functionality to supply flight-worthy steel additively manufactured elements.
“This instantly helps our ‘24 in 24’ marketing campaign the place we’re working with engineers throughout [Air Force Materiel Command] with the purpose of flying 24 steel elements in 2024,” Moore stated.
To help within the training of aerospace college students utilizing cutting-edge expertise, the OC-ALC funded, by way of a aggressive contract for utilized analysis, a GE M2 Collection 5 Steel 3D printer for the lab able to printing titanium alloys.
“We’ve got been innovators within the advance manufacturing house and OU needs to help that,” stated Eric Bartlow, the OC-ALC technical director. “They’re standing up this facility to return alongside us in a tutorial manner.”
Together with the advantages of college analysis, this partnership exposes college students to the potential for a profession with the OC-ALC, which is the biggest single-site employer within the state of Oklahoma. Deliberate future growth of the lab’s capabilities contains help for producing plane propulsion elements, in addition to expanded utilized analysis, coaching, and workforce growth to help navy and industrial aerospace companions.
