July 20, 2022 –
Two additively manufactured (3D printed) cargo links were installed on two operational MH-47G aircraft at Fort Campbell, KY in support of an extended flight test program. The cargo links were manufactured from a high-strength aluminum alloy 7A77 under NCDMM’s AMNOW program and represent the first Army-developed metallic AM aircraft parts to be flown on Army aircraft. In addition to the AMNOW program team and the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)
Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), key suppliers on the team include:
- 7A77 powder treated and supplied by HRL of Malibu, CA
- Printing by Beehive Industries (formerly Volunteer Aerospace) of Knoxville, TN
- Machining and finishing by Penn United Technologies of Cabot, PA
- Material testing by Product Evaluation Systems of Latrobe, PA
- Radiographic inspection by Pinnacle Industrial X-ray Laboratory of Suwanee, GA
The AMNOW program team consists of: NCDMM, The Barnes Global Advisors, Youngstown Business Incubator, Catalyst Connection, LECS Energy, Quotient, Advanced Engineering Solutions, GCA Coach, and the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
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About America Makes
America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, workforce and economic development organizations, work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for AM and first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). Visit
americamakes.us to learn more.