America Makes has received a $10 million grant from the Air Force Research Laboratory under a new five-year cooperative agreement to refine manufacturing techniques for aircraft replacement parts.
America Makes will collaborate with the University of Dayton Research Institute, Youngstown State University, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and Air Force Reserve Command’s 910th Airlift Wing to research manufacturing methods for replacement parts, the Air Force said Monday.
Dennis Butcher, a program manager at America Makes, said the project aims to help the Air Force’s air logistics complexes replace parts for legacy and other military aircraft through additive manufacturing techniques and other types of technologies.
Team will also collaborate with other Air Force and Defense Department bases and depots on the project.
The initiative will also use other manufacturing methods such as reverse engineering tools, three-dimensional scanners, computer-aided design software and non-destructive evaluation systems to help address the maintenance needs for aircraft, aircraft support vehicles and machinery.