A consortium made up of Youngstown State University (YSU), research and academic institutions, manufacturers, and major players in the defense industry has completed the first phase of a three-phase, $27-million project that uses additive manufacturing to replace parts on aging Air Force aircraft.

Representatives of aerospace contractors such as Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have partnered with YSU, America Makes, the University of Dayton Research Institute, and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining to complete Phase 1. This part of the project focused on visiting numerous air bases and identifying some of the issues related to sourcing replacement parts for older aircraft, and examining ways in which additive manufacturing could help solve some of these challenges.

Phase II of the initiative, now underway, is focused on using direct printing to produce replacement spare parts and in the process address the challenges used to test and qualify flight-critical components for use on aircraft.

Phase III involves transitioning the technology from Phase I to military depots and operational units.

For more, https://businessjournaldaily.com/ysu-led-advanced-manufacturing-initiative-aids-air-force/.