Arcam AB fka AMAVF

[charlie T colton]

Payback emerges on Pentagon's Manufacturing USA initiative

At defensenews.com - Payback emerges on Pentagon's Manufacturing USA initiative - 9/11/2017

From the middle of the article:

Productive results

One example with 3D printing is very technical, but serves as a good example of the work the institutes are doing.

Electron beam melting, an additive manufacturing technique, has been limited for military aircraft and space applications to only “nonstructural, nondurability-rated components primarily for static strength at operating temperatures,” according to a Manufacturing USA report. But both companies and the Pentagon want to expand the use of those parts, which can be cheaper to produce. Hence, one of the institutes began running an experiment on “highly loaded or elevated temperature exposed components” in order to create a large scale dataset on whether these parts could survive use.

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems was the principal participant on the program, which also saw assistant from CalRAM, the Concurrent Technologies Corporation, Puris LLC and the Robert C. Byrd Institute. The Pentagon, Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation chipped in from the public sector.

In all, the project had a $1.3M total budget -- $587K in public funding and $694K in private funding. And at the end of the day, “multiple” full-scale components were identified and manufactured, with significant testing afterwards.

That data can now be used to help guide future 3D printed parts, and opens the door to those manufacturing techniques being used to produce equipment that it previously was restricted on, which Northrop is looking at for future airframes.



For reference:

http://calraminc.com/how-it-works-electron-beam-melting/

http://calraminc.com/how-it-works-advantages/

http://calraminc.com/key-benefits-performance/

Enable Widespread use of Ti-6Al-4V through Statistically Significant Design Allowables - Jul 29, 2017

Order for two EBM systems from CalRAM Inc. - September 30, 2015 -----(Looks like CalRam has at least 7 Arcam machines)

Arcam, listed on NASDAQ Stockholm, has received an order for two EBM systems from CalRAM in the US. The systems will be used for production of aerospace components.

CalRAM, a Midstate Berkshire Company, is a customer to Arcam since 2005 and presently operates 5 EBM systems. Midstate Berkshire is a recognized leader in precision machining, fabrication and assembly for the aerospace, defence and oil and gas industries.

“With demand for additive manufacturing production increasing rapidly, we continue to invest in EBM technology to secure capacity and give CalRAM an edge in the aerospace industry,” says Duane Pekar, CEO of Midstate Berkshire. “Arcam is the leading supplier of titanium additive manufacturing systems and we turned to them with confidence, having used their EBM products for years.”

“Arcam’s strategy is to offer Additive Manufacturing solutions specifically targeting production volumes in the aerospace and orthopaedic industries. This deal confirms the potential for our EBM technology within the aerospace industry. We look forward to continue working closely with CalRAM to further grow their activities in this innovative, demanding industry,” says Magnus René, CEO of Arcam.