Workshop Held in San Diego, CA
February 16, 2023. Bethesda, MD – The Applied Science & Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America) hosted a workshop in San Diego, CA February 7-8, to connect with users and stakeholders in large-scale, near net shape additive manufacturing (AM) technology and potential performers involved in Army ground vehicle system integration. Participants explored issues related to AM part qualification as well as upcoming funding opportunities for design and prototype subcontract awards related to large-scale metal friction stir welding. The workshop was held in conjunction with Meld Manufacturing’s User Group Meeting.
The workshop is the second of three to be held under Project Order 001 of the $95 million Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) managed by ASTRO to develop additive and advanced manufacturing technologies for the U.S. Army. The OTA is being carried out under the direction of the United States Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA) on behalf of the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC).
Project Order 001 focuses on the advancement of component designs for large-scale AM. Specifically, the project will explore potential use-cases, paving the way for extensive qualification and adoption of the world’s largest 3D printer, which is currently under development at Ingersoll Machine Tools and will ultimately reside at the Army’s Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing & Technology Center (JMTC).
“We believe this project has great potential to support the warfighter through critical additive manufacturing innovations at the Army’s Center of Excellence for Advanced and Additive Manufacturing,”said Jason Gorey, Executive Director of ASTRO America. “We were excited by the great turnout by the West Coast’s Defense Industrial Base. We look forward to continuing to discuss funding opportunities with these companies – big and small – to design concepts and demonstrate real-world viability of large-scale metal additive manufacturing.”
More information on the workshop and the ASTRO OTA can be found here.
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About ASTRO America
The Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan Research Institute and Think Tank. It was established in 2018 to advance the public interest through manufacturing technology and policy. Led by manufacturing professionals with broad public and private sector experience, ASTRO America supports collaborations by government agencies and companies to address supply chain challenges in highly regulated industries, including aerospace and defense.
Find out more: https://www.astroa.org/
This effort was sponsored by the U.S. Government under Other Transaction Agreement number W56HZV-22-9-D001 with ASTRO. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation herein.
The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.
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