UDRI research placing a metal block in a laser manufacturing device.

Rapid Delivery of Additive, Laser and Robotic Manufacturing Systems and Solutions

UDRI's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Development researchers innovate and transition advanced manufacturing techniques and processes to production. Using standardized tools, processes, and equipment, we address the challenges of additive manufacturing (AM) including reverse engineering, design and qualification for AM, process validation and facility deployment, materials, and cybersecurity.

Through our efforts, we are leading the way to improve military readiness through the use of additive manufacturing and cold spray technologies and creating a solid foundation to address part shortages, supply chain gaps, and diminishing manufacturing sources in order to “print on demand anytime, anywhere.”


Capabilities

Metal Additive Manufacturing

  • Design and development of custom metal additive manufacturing systems
  • Processing of difficult-to-process materials
  • Rapid assessment of new laser and sensor technology
  • Rapid parameter development workflows
  • Sensor-informed materials science and characterization
  • Aerospace research and development

Laser Manufacturing

  • Leading ultra-fast laser materials research and processing
  • Laser machining of Carbon Matrix Composites (CMCs), Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs), metals and more
  • Multi-axis laser machining
  • Customed laser system design and development
  • Development of Composite Laser Ablative Surface Preparation (CLASP) for composite bond preparation
  • Laser welding

Rapid Applications

  • Development of first robotically integrated, fiber-coupled, femtosecond laser system
  • Rapid responders for aerospace manufacturing
  • Robotics and automation
  • Control theory and system control
  • Composite manufacturing

Polymer Additive Manufacturing

  • Leadership in photopolymer additive manufacturing for aerospace
  • Aerospace materials and application test and qualification
  • High-speed wind tunnel models
  • Multi-functional patterned structures

Digital Engineering

  • Developer of live sensor and data analytics for metal additive manufacturing
  • In-situ and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) data correlation and visualization
  • Machine learning

Design for Fabrication

  • Design for fabrication expertise
  • Rapid turnaround machine shop
  • System design and integration