UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Distribution Statement A. Approved for Public Release. Distribution is unlimited.
FY17 Department of Navy Additive Manufacturing PrintFY17 Department of Navy Additive Manufacturing Print--aa--ThonThon
OnOn--Demand Tow Body PrintingDemand Tow Body Printing Org Logo Here
The DVL (Doppler Velocity Log) tow body was developed using ad-
ditive manufacturing techniques in order to meet strict cost and
schedule needs. The majority of the tow body was produced using
AM technology. Using 3D printing allowed the team to develop, de-
sign, manufacture and field a tow body in under 4 months; vastly
reducing normal design and manufacture times. 3D printing also
allowed for low cost manufacturing of complex geometries that
would have required expensive tooling procedures with traditional
machining. This effort showed that additive manufacturing provides
the ability to develop and test new capabilities quickly, or “Print Ca-
pability on Demand”.
Transition:
The approach used on the project can be appliedto any system that uses deployed or towed sys-tems
Systems can be designed with “Print Capabilityon Demand” design philosophy
Sponsors include PMS-485, PMS415, IWS-5A,
ONR, PMS-406
Business Case:
80% savings in cost
80% development schedule savings
Allows for multiple design spirals during system de-velopment
Proof of concept for shipboard printing of “capabilityon demand” in order to address the mission at hand
Design approach can be leveraged to begin imple-menting shipboard printing
The Technology:
90% of the tow body was 3D printed
All parts shown in yellow were 3D printed
Fortus 900mc was used
Fused Deposition Modeling technology
Ultem plastic provided a durable and water tolerantmaterial
Challenges:
4 Month window for design, development andmanufacture of towed system
Developing a 3D printed design that is durable,water tolerant and neutrally buoyant
In water testing with short lead times are espe-cially challenging
NUWCNUWC--4 USV w/ Tow Body4 USV w/ Tow Body
Enhanced Capability ConceptEnhanced Capability Concept