Colibrium Additive has been awarded a $31 million contract by NAVAIR in support of its Additive Manufacturing Capability initiative.
The Additive Manufacturing Capability initiative aims to enable expedited testing, qualification and certification of metal additively manufactured parts in a bid to improve the U.S. Navy’s operational readiness.
Under the agreement, Colibrium Additive will deliver six metal alloy Material Process Combinations (MPCs), which are the detailed metal alloy’s physical and mechanical property data. The additive manufacturing technology supplier will also optimise process parameters, consolidate material and process specifications, and establish design allowables for the properties tested.
Colibrium will expand the existing AlSi7Mg and IN718 packages, while adding 17-4PH and 7050-RAM2 to the current portfolio of 316L, CoCr, and Ti64. A dedicated thin-wall fatigue characterisation will help validate the performance and fatigue life of thin-wall geometries, supporting the qualification and certification of additively manufactured structures for aviation use.
Under the agreement, and to meet NAVAIR required development timelines, Colibrium Additive will also deliver three M Line metal 3D printing systems and one M2 Series 5 printer to support the MPC development effort. A comprehensive AddWorks services package, encompassing licensed material characterisation/data curves, manufacturing process instructions, and select specifications to support the additive manufacture of NAVAIR components, will also be included. Colibrium will also provide a training program to support the repeatable production of airworthy parts, while a comprehensive training plan for teams in manufacturing, quality, design, materials, and machine operation will help to build enduring in-house capability.
Together, these elements are intended to shorten lead times for critical components, improve fleet sustainment and enhance overall naval aviation readiness.
“Colibrium Additive is proud to extend its support of NAVAIR with proven metal additive technology and deep application expertise,” said Lars Bruns, Executive Technology Leader at Colibrium Additive. “By combining certified hardware with licensed process data and hands-on training, we are helping accelerate the Navy’s ability to produce repeatable, airworthy components at scale and reduce supply chain risk for critical aviation parts.”
