THE INDUSTRIAL BASE
copper. Automating the process not only controlled the copper transfer and pour time, it also improved repeatability of the process. NCDMM was also instru- mental in this project—for example, the team discovered that adding bumps to the bottom of the lens allowed the epoxy to evenly disperse without impacting the function of the lens. Without this partner- ship, a great idea may have been missed and the project may not have been as successful.
LOAD IT UP
A JAGM missile is loaded onto an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter during the JAGM initial operational test and evaluation. The test was conducted at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
of ManTech-funded projects within the industrial base that ultimately affected Soldier warfighting capabilities. NCDMM has increased its portfolio since its incep- tion with a variety of collaboration and partnerships across DOD. NCDMM, which is a not-for-profit company, pro- actively engages with all branches of the U.S. military and its industrial base to control cost and improve productivity and performance of manufactured parts and assemblies. Te company strengthens the U.S. industrial base by connecting manu- facturing companies across the country. Recently, NCDMM was selected to lead America Makes, the Manufacturing USA Institute for additive manufacturing.
CUSTOMIZING PROCESSES Lenses are used in guided missiles to change the direction of the light rays to enable missiles to see their targets. Scratched or warped lenses alter the laser line of sight, which may disrupt the
missiles’ mission. Te ManTech team part- nered with industry on the missile seeker project by implementing custom tooling and an automated process.
Before the new process, lenses were often damaged and ultimately scrapped during the grinding and polishing process. Te team implemented a customized machine with a vacuum tool to pick up the lenses without damaging or dropping them. Te new process reduced the number of steps the operators needed to perform and enabled operators to measure components without worrying about alignment issues. Te new process is also much more effi- cient and repeatable, and is easier for new operators to learn.
The project drastically reduced the processing time for lens assembly from seven days to approximately one and a half hours and improved safety by auto- mating the transfer and pouring of molten
CONCLUSION NCDMM’s role through the years has ranged from project integration to proj- ect execution of Army ManTech projects. Tey have used a variety of contract- ing methods,
including traditional
contracting, cooperative agreements and other-transaction authorities. Trough America Makes, NCDMM also partici- pates in developing technology road maps and informing strategic planning for critical topics, including additive manu- facturing.
CCDC’s relationships with industry partners around the world enable the command to discover new and different manufacturing processes that are criti- cal to developing technology for Soldiers. Tese technologies are the foundation for the battlefield of the future, supporting the Army’s modernization priorities and giving Soldiers the tools they need to fight and win.
ARGIE R. SARANTINOS, a public affairs specialist for Huntington Ingalls Industries – Technical Solutions Division, provides contract support to CCDC. She holds an M.S. in professional writing and a B.A. in mass communications from Towson University. She has 14 years of public affairs experience supporting DOD.
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