Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), a leading US defense company, has announced the successful installation of the first 3D-printed valve manifold assembly on a new aircraft carrier. This installation took place at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) facility.
The use of certified 3D-printed components is seen as a major step forward in shipbuilding. HII believes this approach could speed up the construction and delivery of naval vessels to the US Navy by reducing lead times and enhancing the quality of critical components.
The valve manifold assembly is a key part of the ship’s fluid distribution system. It helps channel a single source of fluid to multiple points across the ship. The 5-foot long, 1,000-pound assembly was installed in the pump room of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80). NNS collaborated with DM3D Technology to create the manifold body using additive manufacturing (AM) techniques.
Following this achievement on the Enterprise, similar AM-produced manifolds are planned for the Doris Miller, which will further streamline construction and reduce scheduling risks.
Dave Bolcar, Vice President of Engineering and Design at NNS, stated: “What began as a proof of concept has quickly evolved into a significant improvement in shipbuilding efficiency. The benefits of this innovation will extend beyond the Enterprise, integrating additive manufacturing into the shipbuilding process.”
As of now, more than 55 3D-printed parts have been installed on both new ships and those already in service. This year, the shipyard plans to add over 200 more AM parts to its vessels.
