YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining announced two new project calls worth a combined $25.6 million.
The first project call, Maturation Initiative for Additive Metals Interchangeability, is worth $12.4 million and is funded through the Office of the Under Secretary of War, Acquisition and Sustainment, Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program. This project aims to validate that metallic additive manufacturing materials can reliably replace traditional alloys in U.S. Department of Defense weapon system components.
Project teams will select candidate parts, define performance requirements and generate shared, validated data demonstrating that the additive manufacturing material meets or exceeds the critical properties of the legacy alloys it is intended to substitute. The goal is to enable broad, cross-platform use of additive manufacturing materials, reduce redundant testing and accelerate qualification so additive manufacturing solutions can be adopted quickly and confidently across the defense industrial base. Three awards are anticipated.
“Advancing material interchangeability through additive manufacturing is a strategic step toward strengthening the nation’s defense posture,” said John Martin, additive manufacturing research director at America Makes. “This effort delivers the analytical rigor and validated data needed to accelerate trusted [additive manufacturing] adoption, directly supporting the Department of War’s priorities for a more resilient and responsive industrial base.”
For more information and to submit a proposal by July 9, click HERE. A kickoff webinar is scheduled for 3 p.m. May 12. Register HERE.
The second project call, INtegrated System for In-situ Testing & Evaluation, is worth $13.2 million and is funded through the Office of the Under Secretary of War, Acquisition and Sustainment, IBAS Program and the Office of the Under Secretary of War, Manufacturing Technology Office. One award is anticipated.
The project’s objective is to establish an integrated additive manufacturing quality‑assurance system that unifies in‑situ monitoring and post‑build inspection to strengthen defect detection, advance U.S. Department of Defense priorities for more reliable additive manufacturing qualification and deliver production‑ready capabilities that enhance efficiency, readiness and competitiveness across the U.S. supply base.
“As additive manufacturing scales to larger and more complex components, the ability to confidently verify part quality becomes mission critical,” said Ben DiMarco, technology transition director at America Makes. “This project brings together advanced analytics, in‑situ monitoring and next‑generation NDE into a unified strategy that strengthens our industrial base and accelerates the deployment of reliable [additive manufacturing] capabilities across defense applications.”
For more information and to submit a proposal by July 9, click HERE. A kickoff webinar is scheduled for 3 p.m. May 7. Register HERE.