TEL NOF AIR BASE, Israel \u2015 In a country steeped in political controversy and surrounded by strategic threats, military planners in Israel are looking to 3-D printing to bolster wartime self-sufficiency in the event of embargoes or supply chain disruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here at Depot 22 \u2015 the Israeli Air Force\u2019s central depot tasked with repairing and maintaining much of the force\u2019s fixed-wing aircraft \u2015 commanders are preparing to transition from 3-D scanning of selected parts to actual 3-D printing of those parts. The transition process, officers say, involves meticulous evaluation and testing, and will focus only on nonstructural parts that can endure stress loads of flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But once they master initial printing of flight-worthy parts, depot professionals say they\u2019ll be on their way to an in-house ability to shorten supply chains and bridge strategic gaps that may confound them in times of war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn wartime, we can be here around the clock working to return aircraft to their home squadrons,\u201d said Lt. Col. Maxim Orgad, commander of Depot 22\u2019s Engineering Division. \u201cThe more we master this technology, the more we\u2019ll be able to use it to save precious time and bridge critical gaps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orgad said Depot 22 has spent nearly three years improving its ability to use 3-D scanners to support the designing and conventional manufacturing of spare parts. What used to take several weeks or months now takes a matter of hours or a few days, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore, we had to make a mold of the part, but now we\u2019re using a 3-D scanner, which we can take anywhere and use to scan different parts of the aircraft. The scanner makes the 3-D model, which we then take to our manufacturing center where we manufacturer through traditional methods,\u201d the officer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGranted, this is only the beginning. But eventually we\u2019ll be able to reap even bigger benefits by actually printing our own parts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past year, Depot 22 professionals have been flying 3-D-designed plastic parts on Heron and Hermes UAVs to analyze reliability and flight worthiness. The depot is also experimenting with small, noncritical parts associated with the CH-53, F-16 and F-15 aircraft, officers said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Orgad said the depot\u2019s focus is primarily on UAVs, where it is evaluating future operational needs and determining how they can be met by way of 3-D printing. To that end, Depot 22 is working with the Defense Ministry\u2019s Defense Research and Development Directorate and industry to keep abreast of new technological and procedural developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur engineers are working in this new field. We\u2019re researching the materials, properties and processes associated with 3-D design and manufacturing. We\u2019re looking at how we can use this technology to fix airplanes and to fly on airplanes. \u2026 And as we gain knowledge and experience, we\u2019ll begin to prove some parts in manned aircraft,\u201d Orgad said, before pausing and quickly adding: \u201cBut we have a long way ahead of us until then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n