The US Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence: Building AM Production Capacity in the Maritime Industrial Base
Mission
Centralize & Dedicate
Create a U.S. Navy hub dedicated to developing industry-ready technical data for the deployment of AM at scale.
Bridge the Gaps
Bridge the gap between AM suppliers and component OEMs to the Navy need, and deploy the digital infrastructure to support it.
Activate
Grow and activate the MIB by supporting Navy AM qualification activities to build capacity for serial part production.
Train
Equip a new workforce with the skills required by the Navy AM mission.
Capabilities
Additive Manufacturing
LASER POWDER BED FUSION (316L, CuNi)
- EOS M290, 250 x 250 x 325mm
- EOS M400-1, 400 x 400 x 400mm
- EOS M400-1, 400 x 400 x 400mm
- EOS M400-4, 400 x 400 x 400mm
- 3DS DMP Flex 350, 350 x 350 x 350mm
WIRE-ARC DED (TiCP2, NAB; Future Focus: MIL100S, CuNi)
- Gefertec 605
- Arcemy AML3D
- Arcemy AML3D (Large Format)
- Lincoln Electric SculptPrint Production 1500
Friction Stir AM (Al)
- MELD L3 w/ continuous feed, 129cm x 58cm
Heat Treatment
Vacuum + gas quench capability
Metrology & Inspection
Full 3D scanning & CMM capabilities
Post Processing
Cutting
- GF CUT AM 500 Wire EDM
- Amada Vertical Band Saw VM-1200
- Large format Hermle C62 (Summer 2025)
CNC Lathe
- DMG Mori NLX 2500
Milling & Turning
- Haas VF-3YT Vertical Mill, 3-axis
- Haas VF-90 Vertical Mill, 3-axis
- Haas UMC 1250 Vertical Mill, 5-axis
Testing
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
- Film/Digital Computed Radiography (450kV X-Ray Unit and Vault)
- Visible / Fluorescent Penetrant Testing
- Magnetic Particle Inspection (Yoke) Dry / Wet Fluorescent
- Also Available (off-site)
- Ultrasonic Inspection
- Conventional Flaw Detection
- PAUT
- Eddy Current
MECHANICAL TESTING
- Tension Testing
- Bend Testing
- Charpy Impact Testing
- Macro Vickers Hardness Testing
- Rockwell Hardness Testing
METALLURGICAL TESTING
- Microstructure / Macrostructure Analysis
- Inclusion / Porosity / Defect Analysis
Partners
Austal USA’s Advanced Technologies Team
Austal USA’s advanced technologies team are leaders in cutting-edge technology implementation for defense and maritime applications. Leading a team of industry partners, Austal USA’s advanced technologies team operates the U.S. Navy’s AM COE in Danville, VA – the U.S. Navy’s flagship for additive manufacturing that supports the construction of next-generation ships and boats. The Austal USA advanced technologies team provides program management and operations management, as well as heat treatment expertise for the AM COE.
Phillips Federal
Phillips Federal, a division of Phillips Corporation, has over 60 years of experience addressing manufacturing challenges using a robust portfolio of combination of subtractive and additive solutions, applications expertise, and services. Phillips Federal is the strategic partner that manages part digitization and additive manufacturing at the Navy’s AM COE; other responsibilities include installing, managing, and operating the powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition machines.
Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR)
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), located in Danville, VA, serves as a regional catalyst for economic transformation applied research, advanced learning, economic development, advanced manufacturing and conference services. IALR is a critical industry partner in the Navy’s AM COE by managing post-processing activities, including machining, saw cutting, inspections, build plate re-processing, and processing of test samples.
Industrial Inspection and Analysis (IIA)
IIA is a high-growth industrial inspection and analysis company that offers best-in-class industrial inspection, analysis, and certification capabilities; it supports the Navy’s AM COE with onsite inspection and testing, supported by a robust portfolio of offsite testing techniques. Primary onsite testing capabilities include destructive testing and non-destructive testing.
Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM)
CCAM is an applied research center that provides production-ready advanced manufacturing solutions through the collaboration of industry, academia, and government. CCAM is leading the in-situ monitoring effort for the Navy’s AM COE by assessing currently available technologies and comparing in-situ data to ground truth NDT. Other tasks include designing a secure data architecture for the AM COE and supporting digitally enhanced part qualification.
