UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

Distribution Statement A. Approved for Public Release. Distribution is unlimited.

FY17 Department of Navy Additive Manufacturing PrintFY17 Department of Navy Additive Manufacturing Print--aa--ThonThon

OnOn--Demand Tow Body PrintingDemand Tow Body Printing Org Logo Here

The DVL (Doppler Velocity Log) tow body was developed using ad-

ditive manufacturing techniques in order to meet strict cost and

schedule needs. The majority of the tow body was produced using

AM technology. Using 3D printing allowed the team to develop, de-

sign, manufacture and field a tow body in under 4 months; vastly

reducing normal design and manufacture times. 3D printing also

allowed for low cost manufacturing of complex geometries that

would have required expensive tooling procedures with traditional

machining. This effort showed that additive manufacturing provides

the ability to develop and test new capabilities quickly, or “Print Ca-

pability on Demand”.

Transition:

The approach used on the project can be appliedto any system that uses deployed or towed sys-tems

Systems can be designed with “Print Capabilityon Demand” design philosophy

Sponsors include PMS-485, PMS415, IWS-5A,

ONR, PMS-406

Business Case:

80% savings in cost

80% development schedule savings

Allows for multiple design spirals during system de-velopment

Proof of concept for shipboard printing of “capabilityon demand” in order to address the mission at hand

Design approach can be leveraged to begin imple-menting shipboard printing

The Technology:

90% of the tow body was 3D printed

All parts shown in yellow were 3D printed

Fortus 900mc was used

Fused Deposition Modeling technology

Ultem plastic provided a durable and water tolerantmaterial

Challenges:

4 Month window for design, development andmanufacture of towed system

Developing a 3D printed design that is durable,water tolerant and neutrally buoyant

In water testing with short lead times are espe-cially challenging

NUWCNUWC--4 USV w/ Tow Body4 USV w/ Tow Body

Enhanced Capability ConceptEnhanced Capability Concept