HII installs first 3D printed valve manifold assembly
The 5-foot-long metal manifold body was manufactured by DM3D Technology using DED
Shipbuilders at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, the largest military shipbuilding company in the United States, have successfully installed the first 3D printed valve manifold assembly on a new construction aircraft carrier. The manifold body was manufactured by DM3D Technology, a company utilizing Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology.
The use of certified 3D printed parts has the potential to accelerate the construction and delivery of vessels to the US Navy by cutting lead times and improving manufacturing quality for critical components.
The valve manifold assembly, a specialized assembly that allows for the distribution of a single source of fluid to multiple points on the ship, is installed in a pump room on Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80). The assembly, which is approximately 5 feet long and 1,000 pounds, reflects the shipyard’s pursuit of all opportunities to support construction using AM.
With the completion of this evolution on Enterprise (CVN 80), similar manifolds planned for Doris Miller (CVN 81) will employ AM rather than traditional casting methods – reducing schedule risk and improving efficiency.
“What started as a proof of concept quickly turned into a tangible result that is making a meaningful difference to improve efficiencies in shipbuilding,” said Dave Bolcar, Vice President of Engineering and Design at NNS. “The benefits of this innovation will extend well beyond Enterprise (CVN 80), as we incorporate our expertise in additive manufacturing into the fundamentals of shipbuilding.”
This latest advancement in the development and deployment of AM builds on NNS’ prior certification and approval as a supplier for AM components on Naval Sea Systems (NAVSEA) platforms. To date, the shipyard has created more than 55 additively manufactured parts – installed on both new construction vessels and those currently in the fleet – with plans to install more than 200 additional parts this year.
