Implementing an Aerospace Factory of the Future

Companies are introducing "Industry 4.0" technology at a rapid pace, turning the next-generation vision of manufacturing into reality.

Quality Control for Additive Manufacturing Parts Using Non-Destructive Testing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is growing in importance as a fabrication process for the space industry, enabling weight and cost savings through optimized designs...

Finding Alternatives to Cadmium in Aerospace Applications

It is both an exciting and a difficult time for the aerospace industry. While the sector is at its most buoyant with demand soaring in the commercial market, this is placing a strain...

Additive Manufacturing: How 3D Printing Will Transform the A&D Support Chain

3D printing, or additive manufacturing (AM), is quickly becoming a 'must have' for aerospace and defense (A&D) manufacturers rather than just a luxury R&D...

Process Approach to Determining Quality Inspection Deployment

As new technologies are implemented in manufacturing areas, inspection processes will be affected. Often because product quality has increased or automated inspection equipment...

Designing VME Power Systems With Standard Modules

Military electronics continue to push the performance envelope in all directions. Each new system design faces the same challenges: the need for more processing power, tighter specs, and...

Using Sensor Technology to Combat Legacy Issues in Defense Avionics

Reliance on aging military platforms has become a global concern and military aircraft today are expected to remain in service for longer than their original life cycles....

EOS and MTU Advance Quality Measures for Metal-Based Additive Manufacturing

EOS and MTU Aero Engines have partnered to develop quality-assurance measures for metal engine components using additive manufacturing (AM), signing a framework...

Next-Generation Mobile Tactical Communications

After many years of development and well-publicized budget overruns, the DoD’s Joint Tactical Radio System program (since reorganized and renamed) has recently given birth to a set of handheld...

Evaluating a Data Clustering Approach for Lifecycle Facility Control

Given the current emphasis on sustainability, there is a growing interest in monitoring various facets of building resource consumption. Building monitoring and automation...

Using Standardized Test Methods to Develop Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Traditional test methodologies employ testing as part of the validation phase of a project. While testing plays an important role for validation and quality control, it can...

Designing COTS Optics Into Defense Projects

When settling in to design a new optical device for a defense application, it is often desirable to use Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) optical components wherever possible. COTS optics offer many...

Cleaning and Protecting Large Mirrors Using a Polymer Solution

Cleaning and protecting optics is a challenge — contamination must be removed without damaging the surface. Preventing recontamination for extended periods of time after...

Strain-Induced Porosity Model

AFRL scientists developed advanced computer models to improve the processing and quality of titanium alloys used in manufacturing gas turbine engine parts and critical structural components for military...