Page 16 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 10-23-15

Oct. 23, 2015 NEWS Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
16 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
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Tommie Horton

Tracy Rycroft uses a laser scanner to capture part dimensions used to construct a 3-D model. After programming, the printer
can run on its own 24 hours a day without manning. Rycroft is a 573rd Commodities Maintenance Squadron mechanical engi-
neering technician.

3-D printing taking larger role in depot ops Volunteer
groups raise
7,1.(5$,5)25&(%$6(2NOD³ that are currently bought, shipped to the for that job than an identical 3-D-printed funds by
The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex depot, stored in inventory and pulled when titanium part. wrapping
LV ÀQDOL]LQJ D VWUDWHJLF SODQ WR LQWHJUDWH needed could instead be printed on demand perfect gift
3-D printing technology into nearly every directly at repair and overhaul sites as 3-D “For metals in particular, the additive
aspect of its airpower sustainment mission. printing advances. manufactured properties are typically Community groups can raise funds
somewhat lower, so what you gain in speed for their worthy causes while spread-
OC-ALC experts foresee 3-D printing, The Air Force’s oldest planes, such as DQG ÁH[LELOLW\ \RX ORVH VRPH PHFKDQLFDO ing holiday cheer. The Luke Air Force
DOVRFDOOHGDGGLWLYHPDQXIDFWXULQJÀOOLQJ the venerable B-52 Stratofortress, often properties,” Olivero said. “You can get good Base Exchange is actively soliciting
needs ranging from making aircraft engine need parts that haven’t been manufactured characteristics compared to 10 or 20 years partners for the Army & Air Force
parts to printing electronic components de- for decades. Using 3-D laser mapping and ago, but it’s not as good yet.” Exchange Service’s annual commu-
signed by the 76th Software Maintenance other techniques, existing parts can be nity gift wrap program.
Group. reverse engineered, and even improved, at The scope of the strategic plan, scheduled
air maintenance depots. to be completed in the coming months, “To make the holidays a little easier,
“We’ve realized that additive manu- is broad and will cover questions such as we partner with local groups to ensure
facturing is a technology that is mature ´7KH VSHHG DQG WKH ÁH[LELOLW\ RI LW ZLOO how to build engineers’ expertise with 3-D gifts purchased at the Exchange are
enough, that it is being adopted very very much improve our industrial base, printing and what to do with troves of 3-D wrapped before they even leave the
strongly in industry right now, and that where we’re repairing aircraft that are get- computer models that will be created. store,” said Aileen Rivenburg, general
we as a depot need to build this capability,” ting older,” Olivero said. “We have more and manager. “Beyond offering a one-stop
said Dr. Kristian Olivero, the complex’s top more instances of parts that we can’t get. “We know how to manage 2-D models,” solution for busy military shoppers,
scientist and engineer. All of this will help us be a better logistics 2OLYHURVDLG´:HKDYHÀOHVRISDSHUGUDZ- this effort also helps raise money for
center.” ings. We have technical orders with draw- local military support initiatives.”
“This is a step-change technology that LQJVLQWKHP1RZZHKDYHWRÀJXUHRXWKRZ
will really change in some ways how we can Engineers designing new or improved WRVWRUHFODVVLI\PDLQWDLQDQGFRQÀJXUHDOO During peak holiday seasons, the
do depot maintenance,” Olivero said. “It will SDUWVFRXOGDOVRJHWWKHLUÀQDOSURGXFWVRXW of those 3-D models. Luke AFB Exchange sets up tables
JLYHXVDORWRIVSHHGDQGÁH[LELOLW\EXWLW·V more rapidly. Traditional lathe machining, and provides supplies that community
something we have to learn to manage and a subtractive process that carves parts out “It’s a completely different paradigm,” volunteer groups can use to wrap gifts
understand how to use.” of blocks of material, can take months of Olivero said. “There are new challenges, in exchange for donations.
machining time if a complex part needs new processes and new capabilities, and
The OC-ALC’s plan stems from the addi- multiple prototypes before it’s perfected, we need to work out how to make all that For information on scheduling a
tive manufacturing goals in the Air Force’s Olivero said. ZRUNWRJHWKHUIRURXUEHQHÀWµ time to participate, interested orga-
“Complex of the Future” strategic forecast nizations can call the Exchange at
for the coming decades. Similar complex- “With additive manufacturing, that part According to Jamie Gilbert, the OC-ALC 623-935-2671, ext. 211.
VSHFLÀF LQLWLDWLYHV DUH XQGHUZD\ DW WKH may take a couple of hours to print and you industrial process authority, “The biggest
air logistics complexes at Robins Air Force FDQDFWXDOO\JRWKURXJKÀYHRUVL[LWHUDWLRQV challenge is going to be changing the men- Courtesy of AAFES
Base, Georgia, and Hill AFB, Utah. LQ GD\Vµ 2OLYHUR VDLG ´(YHQ LI \RXU ÀQDO tality of our engineering and technician
part is going to be machined, you can print workforce because right now most of the
Additive manufacturing machines build LWLQSODVWLFÀYHWLPHVWRPDNHVXUHLW·VJRW people in the complex aren’t used to addi-
objects from raw materials fed into them. the correct geometries, the right tolerances, tive manufacturing and working with 3-D
3ODVWLFÀODPHQWWKDWORRNVOLNHWKLFNÀVK- the correct interfaces and then machine the models to manufacture parts and to design
ing line, for example, can be fed into a 3-D ÀQDORQHµ repairs.
printer to construct an object layer by layer
on a platform. A growing list of other raw Additive manufacturing also has disad- “Even many of our young engineers who
materials includes metal pellets, ceramics vantages in some cases, Olivero said. Some ZHUH MXVW RXW RI FROOHJH IRXU RU ÀYH \HDUV
and gypsum. jet engine components must withstand ago, it’s mostly new for them,” Gilbert
extremely high temperatures and physical said. “We’re going to have to learn how to
Olivero, the complex’s technical director, stresses. Parts milled traditionally from incorporate it and insert it into our manu-
said the potential impact of additive manu- a block of forged titanium, for example, facturing machine.”
IDFWXULQJRQGHSRWRSHUDWLRQVLVVLJQLÀFDQW tend to have better molecular properties
Replacement engine parts, for example, Courtesy of af.mil