Accession Number:

AD1102526

Title:

Providing Rational for Further Funding Additive Manufacturing Efforts in the Air Force

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report,01 Sep 2018,06 Mar 2020

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB United States

Personal Author(s):

• Braunberger, Trever J.

Report Date:

2020-03-06

Pagination or Media Count:

104.0

Abstract:

Extremely long lead times for legacy aircraft replacement parts often exceed 120 days and cost 3 to 4 times the original price drives a search for alternative manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing. Currently, the method to procuring a legacy replacement for aircraft such as the C-130 is daunting and at times, impossible. Through a comprehensive knowledge collection of organizational data the Air Force body of knowledge increases and provides actionable data to decision makers which has the potential of dramatically decreasing part wait times and procurement. The proposed, intuitive decision analysis framework mapped out in this research provides relevant direction for potential candidates considering additive manufacturing alternatives within their organizations. As result of this study, interested parties now have an abridged guide to costs, expenses, and challenges of setting up an Additive Manufacturing facility within their establishments.

Descriptors:

• Logistics
• Cost Analysis
• military aircraft
• selective laser sintering
• assembly
• computer aided design
• fused deposition modeling
• manufacturing engineering
• advanced manufacturing
• laser additive manufacturing

Subject Categories:

• Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering and Control of Production Systems
• Aircraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE