3-D Printing a Major Boost For US Air Force

The following is a release from John Parker, Tinker Air Force Base Public Affairs:

The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex is finalizing a strategic plan to integrate 3-D printing technology into nearly every aspect of its airpower sustainment mission.

OC-ALC experts foresee 3-D printing, also called additive manufacturing, filling needs ranging from making aircraft engine parts to printing electronic components designed by the 76th Software Maintenance Group.

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“We’ve realized that additive manufacturing is a technology that is mature enough, that it is being adopted very strongly in industry right now, and that we as a depot need to build this capability,” said Dr. Kristian Olivero, the complex’s top scientist and engineer.

“This is a step-change technology that will really change in some ways how we can do depot maintenance,” Olivero continued. “It will give us a lot of speed and flexibility, but it’s something that we have to learn to manage and understand how to use.”

The OC-ALC’s plan stems from the additive manufacturing goals in the Air Force’s “Complex of the Future” strategic forecast for the coming decades. Similar complex-specific initiatives are underway at the air logistics complexes at Robins Air Force …Read the Rest

Source:: Tactical Life