Johnstown, Pa.-based Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) recently nabbed a $4.4 million contract to develop an additive manufacturing machine specifically to make U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) advanced weapon systems parts.
“CTC is committed to advancing manufacturing capabilities and supporting the defense industry’s critical needs,” said CTC president and CEO Edward Sheehan, Jr.
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory selected CTC, an independent, nonprofit, applied scientific research and development professional services organization, to develop phase two of the project, which aims to overcome the existing limitations associated with additive manufacturing (AM) equipment, and to improve the production of longer parts that are needed for defense applications.
“The technical work we are performing for this project includes elements of CTC’s full-service portfolio of AM capabilities, including design, testing, post-processing, machining, and qualification,” Sheehan said.
Currently, the process of manufacturing large components for advanced weapons systems involves joining multiple smaller AM parts. The resulting challenges associated with this process include strength issues, inconsistent mechanical properties, and limited design flexibility, according to Sheehan.
By increasing the capabilities of AM for DOD applications, the process developed by CTC will eliminate such issues and streamline the manufacturing process, he said.
Specifically, the contract requires CTC to finalize the machine design, install the equipment, conduct qualification tests, and print near- or full-height representative geometry to ensure optimal performance.
“We are proud of AFRL’s [Air Force Research Laboratory’s] continued trust in our ability to provide value on this important effort,” said Ken Sabo, CTC senior director of manufacturing.