![]() “This new machine will provide Rock Island Arsenal with an additive capability that doesn’t exist anywhere else to not only produce parts for the Army but also across the DOD. “There are a lot of big, heavy metal parts within the Army inventory that additive manufacturing is not even an option to make simply because they don’t fit within the build envelop of the current machines available in industry,” said Joseph Kott, GVSC Materials Division Advanced Manufacturing Branch Chief. While the ability to produce monolithic hulls is important, the new machine also will have the capacity to produce much larger additive manufacturing parts than currently possible. “The Jointless Hull project ultimately aims to realize an overall improvement to the complete manufacturing process and supply chain for monolithic hulls with the potential of enabling additional advancements through the additive manufacturing process combined with materials and design to improve performance,” Pender said. The machine will have the capability of a metal print size at 30 feet (9.1 m) long, 20 feet (6 m) wide and 12 feet (3.6 m) high. Monolithic hulls for combat vehicles have well-established advantages-especially in survivability and weight savings-but traditional manufacturing processes are not cost-effective or adaptable to full production, especially when multiple vehicle platforms are considered. The 3D metal printer is expected to take 14 months to complete and will be installed at Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, a key partner which will be in charge of operations. ![]() Pender said a smaller version of the printer-capable of producing parts 3 feet by 4 feet by 5 feet-will be housed at GVSC’s Detroit Arsenal Prototype Integration Facility and used for development work to support the larger machine. “GVSC remains at the forefront of support to Army readiness through our aggressive pursuit of Advanced Manufacturing capability.” ![]() “We’re looking to leverage the technology’s capability to more efficiently manufacture parts, reduce weight, lower costs, and improve long-term sustainment efforts, all to improve readiness,” said Brandon Pender, GVSC Associate Director for the Materials Division. ![]()
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