Electron Beam Direct Manufacturing As an Alternative to Forging
Lockheed Martin expects to reduce titanium part-production costs for the F-35 fighter by applying this additive manufacturing technology in place of forging.
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Sciaky Inc., a company based in Chicago, Illinois, has fewer than 60 employees today, but company leaders are preparing for its workforce to double or triple in the years to come. The company specializes in large-scale welding systems, but soon, the bulk of its activity might focus on a welding-derived technology for additive manufacturing. “Electron beam direct manufacturing,” or EBDM, holds considerable promise for defense aeronautics company Lockheed Martin—which intends to use it to reduce titanium part-production costs for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Lockheed Martin has joined Sciaky in a U.S. Department of Defense “Mentor-Protégé” agreement aimed at advancing the technology to realize these savings.
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