Engineering and Technical Management

These two devices are demonstration items that the Engineering and Technical Management Directorate of the Air Force Sustainment Center, based at Tinker, uses to promote the concept of 3D printed aircraft parts. The one on the right is called "Brain Gear" and was printed on a 3D printer in one piece, as is. “It’s a plastic material, and we use this kind of printing in our MX shops today to fit check parts that we need to manufacture locally,” said EN Director Angie Tymofichuk. The other item, a titanium part, also was 3D printed but in a different fashion called Additive Manufacturing, using a laser. “The technology to make those things exists in industry today,” Ms. Tymofichuk said. “What we're pushing is standards, testing, qualification, etc., for using that technology to make parts on-demand, not having to keep stock in warehouses or having to wait on deliveries." (Air Force photo by Kelly White)

PHOTO BY: Kelly White
VIRIN: 130422-F-RI777-001.JPG
FULL SIZE: 5.21 MB
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