DLA Research & Development's Metal Casting program includes work in developing new and improved metal casting capabilities in the areas of inspection, materials, processes, modeling, tooling, prototyping, and design. The implementation of these capabilities will support the foundry industry, where the technology will be tested and in turn, benefit the DLA and DOD.
Innovation & Technology
- On-demand melting technology, production methods and tools for short run quantities.
- Advanced and improved materials though the development of robust, quantitative material datasets
- Automate the sourcing of capable suppliers with DOD needs, ensuring responsive metal casting supply chains
- Non-destructive evaluation and testing methodologies to evaluate cast materials.
Strategic Thrusts
- Sustain and improve metal casting manufacturing for parts bought within the DOD
- Exploit the performance and cost advantages of castings by providing design engineers with tools that more accurately predict the capabilities of cast parts
Program Challenge
To sustain and improve metal casting manufacturing for parts bought within the DOD in support of the warfighter. Procurement of parts that contain castings can be difficult due to the complexity of manufacturing, source or tooling identification, obsolete, or antiquated specifications/standards, continued consolidation within the domestic market and competition from foreign sources.
Benefits
- Improved mission readiness and cost effectiveness
- Decreased cost and lead times
- Improved material availability and quality
- Improved manufacturing and sources of supply
- Lighter weight cast components
- Workforce development/education
Accomplishments & Ongoing Efforts
- Developed tools for casting engineers to design cast spare parts for weapons systems with reliable performance
- CAST-IT team provides valuable resources to DLA and suppliers; assistance requests, should costs, and work force development seminars
- Developed a software interface that allows metal casters to manage all aspects of providing cast components to DLA, ensuring responsive casting supply chains