Leonardo to join the MAM4HP EU research program on AM
The Metallic Additive Manufacturing for High Performances program targets the development of improved mechanical components of transmission systems
Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Leonardo is part of the Metallic Additive Manufacturing for High Performances (MAM4HP) research program, funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU initiative. This project focuses on developing mechanical components of transmission systems produced using Additive Manufacturing.
The central goal of the MAM4HP project is to redesign the Complex Gearbox Housing of the Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor (NGCTR), a program funded by the European Commission through Clean Sky 2-Horizon 2020 to develop a new civil tiltrotor. This component, currently produced using traditional manufacturing processes, presents significant geometric and functional complexities. Through this project, Leonardo will receive a grant of €87,475 provided by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU funds. The project will be conducted in collaboration with top companies like Ducati, Bonfiglioli, Poggipolini, Altair, and Juno, as well as academic partners including the University of Bologna and the Polytechnic University of Turin.
The program is funded by BI-REX, following a public announcement made in June 2023. BI-REX is one of the eight national Competence Centers established by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy under the government’s Industry 4.0 plan. It is a public-private consortium focused on Big Data, bringing together 60 partners including universities, research centers, and leading companies in the field.
The 18-month MAM4HP project will involve a structural optimization phase and a critical analysis of the initial component, to redesign it using additive manufacturing. This redesign will aim to consolidate assemblies or functions into the fewest possible parts. The project will focus on various aspects of the design and production phases involved in manufacturing a helicopter crankcase using additive technology, while also developing design guidelines for creating similarly complex components.
The key technical objectives of the project are:
- Product optimization by leveraging the advantages of Design for Additive Manufacturing.
- Process optimization through the study of production and inspection methods.
- Techno-economic evaluation, providing basic data for preliminary estimates and key performance indicators (KPIs) for future business cases.
Achieving these goals will enhance the competitiveness of Leonardo Helicopters’ products by incorporating Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) techniques into helicopter components and subassemblies.
