Hand-out 3D Systems
3D Systems USS George HW Bush
Newport News plans to use the ProX DMP 320 to produce marine-based alloy replacement parts for castings.
3D Systems has announced a collaboration with Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division to use metal additive manufacturing (AM) technologies to build naval warships.
The company will now move portions of traditional methods to AM, which they hope will enhance production rates with high accuracy with reduced waste, and potentially save costs over traditional production processes.
Newport News Shipbuilding is the primary designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy Submarines. The collaboration first kicked off when 3D systems delivered and installed a ProX DMP 320 metal printer, and they plan on using 3D printing to design and produce marine-based alloy replacement parts for castings as well as valves, housings and brackets amongst others.
"3D Systems is proud of our long-standing relationship with the U.S. Navy," said Kevin McAlea, executive vice president, general manager, metals and healthcare, 3D Systems. "Through this collaboration with Newport News Shipbuilding, our 3D printing solution combined with our team's expertise in metal 3D printing technology will redefine the supply chain for naval ship components – improving efficiencies and lowering total cost of operation."
3D Systems has been contributing its AM expertise to the US Navy for several years, but this particular collaboration marks the culmination of joint R&D efforts to qualify metal AM to build components for nuclear-powered naval vessels.
"Newport News Shipbuilding is leading the digital transformation to further revolutionise how shipbuilders build the next generation of warships," said Charles Southall, vice president of engineering and design, Newport News Shipbuilding. "With the inclusion of the ProX DMP 320 into our manufacturing workflow, this marks the first metal 3D printer installed at a major U.S. Navy shipyard. With this disruptive technology, Newport News has the potential to reinvent shipbuilding."
