Sciaky enters U.S. DoD agreement with Lockheed Martin

Sciaky, Inc., a provider of welding systems and services in Chicago, has entered a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Agreement with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

With assistance from the DoD Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program, Sciaky, a subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries (PSI), has developed the Electron Beam Direct Manufacturing process to build or repair metal parts. The process combines additive manufacturing principles, CAD, and electron beam welding technology.

Starting with a 3-D model from a CAD program, Sciaky’s fully articulated, moving electron beam gun deposits metal, layer by layer, until the part is ready for finish machining. Depending on the part being manufactured, deposition rates vary from 15 to 40 lbs. of metal per hour.

Under the agreement, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics will help Sciaky expand the manufacturing capacity and management infrastructure to deliver titanium raw material preforms in quantities that will support future DoD and prime contractor needs. The initial focus of the agreement is on manufacturing titanium structural components for Lockheed Martin's F-35 aircraft program.