SBIR-STTR Award

The U.S. Army wishes to extend the capabilities of the mobile Metal Working and Machining Shop Set (MWMSS) with Additive Manufacturing (AM) capabilities to improve delivery times in the field for replacement parts. In this Phase I project, Grid Logic will analyze requirements for field-requested parts, determine specifications/constraints of expeditionary operations and the MWMSS, and gather information on suitable AM systems. This information will be used to design an end-to-end AM solution for MWMSS. By the end of the Phase I effort, Grid Logic will have also developed a safety plan, performed a cost analysis of the AM solution and incorporated input from Army stakeholders. Grid Logic's team is ideally positioned to perform this SBIR. It develops and builds custom manufacturing and repair systems. It has developed new industrial additive manufacturing systems for metals applications and is actively addressing expeditionary fabrication and repair solutions. Grid Logic has experience in requirements specification, systems engineering and integration of 3rd party technologies relevant to this SBIR. It has successfully performed SBIR and other DOD-funded work, for the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and DARPA and has commercialized the results of its R&D as manufacturing systems for defense and industrial applications.

Geofabrica proposes to create a prototype metal additive manufacturing (AM) system for testing in anticipation of transitioning the technology as a potential upgrade to the U.S. Army's MWMSS. The SBIR team will build on Phase I work done as part Grid Logic to create a robust platform that can accommodate many metal AM methods over time. The first AM capability will be based on wire arc additive manufacturing technology. The new AM system will be capable of fabricating and repairing parts in expeditionary conditions as part of the MWMSS equipment and tool set. It will be possible to rapidly assemble and disassembly the metal AM system for transportation in MWMSS storage. It will also be possible to operate the system outside the MWMSS tactical shelter. The project will include requirements confirmation, engineering, building and testing the new metal AM capability. System performance, through fabrication and evaluation of test specimens, will be done by the SBIR team. Geofabrica will provide support to the Army during Limited User Experience (LUE) evaluation. After LUE evaluation, the team will improve the AM system design in preparation qualification. Geofabrica will submit development plans to the Program Office in support of a potential Phase III effort in which the company will continue to provide services for technical tasks leading to transition. Geofabrica will commercialize the technology for dual-use applications.