Additively Manufactured Hardware Produced Under the AMNOW Program Undergoing Flight Test on Operational Aircraft

Additively Manufactured Hardware Produced Under the AMNOW Program Undergoing Flight Test on Operational Aircraft.

Two additively manufactured (3D printed) cargo links were installed on two operational MH-47G aircraft at Fort Campbell, KY in support of an extended flight test program.  The cargo links were manufactured from a high-strength aluminum alloy 7A77 under NCDMM’s AMNOW program and represent the first Army-developed metallic AM aircraft parts to be flown on Army aircraft.  The United States Army Redstone Test Center (RTC) performed fatigue testing, material and failure analysis in support of this effort. In addition to the AMNOW program team and the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), key suppliers on the team include:

• 7A77 powder treated and supplied by HRL of Malibu, CA
• Printing by Beehive Industries (formerly Volunteer Aerospace) of Knoxville, TN
• Machining and finishing by Penn United Technologies of Cabot, PA
• Material testing by Product Evaluation Systems of Latrobe, PA
• Radiographic inspection by Pinnacle Industrial X-ray Laboratory of Suwanee, GA
• Redstone Test Center

The AMNOW program team consists of:  NCDMM, The Barnes Global Advisors, Youngstown Business Incubator, Catalyst Connection, LECS Energy, Quotient, Advanced Engineering Solutions, GCA Coach, and the University of Alabama-Huntsville.

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