Welcome back to Vision Miner’s 3D Printing News! Today, we’re diving into Lockheed Martin’s latest move in the world of aerospace and defense. The renowned contractor has just awarded a significant contract to Sigma Labs for its PrintRite3D in-process quality assurance technology. But what does this all mean? Let’s break it down.
PrintRite3D: Elevating Quality Assurance
Think of PrintRite3D as the enterprise-grade, aerospace-ready version of OctoPrint. It’s a comprehensive system that encompasses print management, CAD simulation, and modeling. Importantly, it seamlessly integrates with Ded or Direct Energy Deposition systems from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Metal Fab and DMG Mori.
PrintRite3D, one of Sigma Labs’ premier products, has been a key driver of the firm’s growth over the past year. It consists of both hardware and software modules that deliver essential quality assurance and in-process monitoring capabilities. It’s all about combining inspection feedback, data collection, and critical analysis to identify potential anomalies during the 3D printing process. This significantly reduces the need for extensive post-production testing, where parts are validated for their real-world applications.
Lockheed Martin’s Adoption
Lockheed Martin’s Additive Design and Manufacturing Center in Sunnyvale, California, will play a pivotal role in assessing the feasibility and performance of PrintRite3D technology. Their evaluation will determine its suitability for deployment in both defense and civil space programs. Christy Farley, Vice President of Spacecraft and Missile Engineering at Lockheed Martin Space, explains their choice: “After a review of our needs and potential solutions, we selected the Sigma PrintRite3D system because of its robust analysis capabilities, quality assurance solutions, data capture technology, and scalability across various OEM 3D printing platforms.”
Lockheed Martin’s 3D Printing Journey
Lockheed Martin has long been a strong advocate for 3D printing in aerospace applications. Their 3D printed components have journeyed as far as Jupiter, and are actively utilized in NASA’s Orion program, military satellites, and even missiles. Notably, they’ve used additive manufacturing to create high-pressure fuel tank domes onboard satellites, contributing to the development of mission-ready satellite buses known as the LM 2100 series.
In 2017, Lockheed Martin invested a substantial $350 million in a cutting-edge satellite production facility, equipping it with industrial-grade 3D printers and virtual immersion environments. The additive design and manufacturing center in Sunnyvale earned UL 3400 certification for additive manufacturing in 2018, meeting all safety and hazard mitigation procedures for handling 3D printers, powdered materials, and factory operations.
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