Air Force Research Laboratory Looking to Increase AM Capabilities for Military Applications
Johnstown, PA, Sept. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) was recently awarded a $5.2 million U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contract that involves building the world’s largest additive manufacturing (AM) machine. The project intends to overcome the limits of current AM (3D) equipment to build longer parts for critical defense applications.
“We are excited to play a role in this ground-breaking AM advancement,” said Edward J. Sheehan, Jr., CTC President and CEO. “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.”
CTC is working with subcontractor SLM Solutions NA, Inc. (U.S. office) to build this industrial metal 3D printer/machine with an extended 1.5-meter build envelope in the Z-axis.
“Partnering with CTC, a premier research and development company, will help us achieve the goal to create a new AM capability,” said Sam O’Leary, SLM Solutions CEO. “We look forward to collaborating on an AM machine that will work much faster than existing equipment and feature the largest build envelope in the industry by far.”