Huntington Ingalls, Navy Collaborate on 3D Printing of Warship Metal Components

Huntington Ingalls Industries has helped the U.S. Navy‘s Naval Sea Systems Command implement an additive manufacturing process to build metal parts for nuclear-powered vessels.

The collaborative project aims to install a prototype piping assembly on the USS Harry S. Truman in early 2019 and subsequently test the structure onboard the warship over a one-year period, HII said Thursday.

NAVSEA approved the shipboard installation of 3D-printed drain strainer orifice, a vessel component designed to facilitate drainage and removal of a steam system’s water.

HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, which builds aircraft carriers for the Navy, proposed installing, testing and evaluating the prototype DSO assembly.

“This is a watershed moment in our digital transformation, as well as a significant step forward in naval and marine engineering,” said Charles Southall, vice president of engineering and design at Newport News Shipbuilding.

Southall added the company seeks to help the service modernize ship design and construction processes.

Newport News Shipbuilding implemented 3D Systems‘ ProX DMP 320 additive manufacturing system as a result of a joint development agreement signed last year.