NASA chooses Tuskegee University to promote aerospace additive manufacturing development

China's 3D printing network on November 6th, the aerospace industry is the trend leader in manufacturing. Its expertise has evolved into lighter materials, efficient engines and a more secure overall machine. Utilizing high technology and shortening time to market is critical to the development of this sector, especially in the case of near-Earth orbit (LEO) and beyond, where business prospects are uncertain. NASA is now advancing the aerospace industry by selecting three service organizations to accelerate manufacturing demand in the US space industry. The Space Agency announced last week that the University of Alaska's Tuskegee will become one of the three universities funded through its Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP). MUREP is part of the NASA STEM Participation Office and works with the agency's Aviation Research Task Force to provide students with the education and experience they need to meet manufacturing needs. Tuskegee will study the impact of additive manufacturing on aerospace mass production and supply chain management.

     “In recent years, the US aviation industry has been striving to meet the growing global demand for aircraft and parts, leading to the highest order backlog in history,” explains Firas Akasheh, professor of mechanical engineering at Tuskegee University, the lead researcher at the project. Researchers and students at Tuskegee University will work with the Bell Helicopter team, a US-based aerospace manufacturer based in Fort Worth that will jointly analyze current manufacturing and supply chains for helicopters and drones. The application develops an executable 3D manufacturing plan. In the case of drones, university researchers have incorporated 3D printing into the design, construction, and testing phases to improve the functionality and performance of these aircraft. This work will be carried out step by step in order to continuously evaluate the quality performance of 3D printed parts.

        Akasheh will lead a multidisciplinary research team that includes Vascar Harris, a professor of aerospace science engineering. Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Mohammad Hossain; Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mandoye Ndoye.

      Over the next two years, the program will provide students with the opportunity to learn how to design and manufacture aerospace parts using high-volume manufacturing practices and supply chain management. It will also help Tuskegee's School of Engineering expand its existing additive manufacturing facilities and capabilities to benefit future academic and research work. Akasheh continues: “3D printing offers incredible advantages for the current manufacturing shortage, which could threaten the US aerospace industry to remain competitive and meet its strategic requirements.”

The 2019 report shows that aerospace and defense companies are increasingly using digital and advanced manufacturing technologies in their product design and production. Advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing help them reduce lead times in the supply chain, increase reliability and productivity, and simplify design. For example, to further enhance its advanced manufacturing capabilities, GE announced the acquisition of Arcam AB and Concept Lasers in Europe and is establishing the GE Additives Customer Experience Center in Germany. In original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Boeing has approximately 50,000 3D printed parts for use in commercial, space and military products. On the other hand, Airbus not only uses AM for prototypes and parts manufacturing of various aircraft, but also focuses on spare parts solutions. By using simplified engineering, time to market, quality, product reuse, significant cost reductions, and supply chain complexity can be reduced.