Machina Labs’ Deployable System performs on-premise metal forming at military base

Los Angeles-based Machina Labs has announced that the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC) at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia is the first organization in the U.S. Air Force to use the company’s Deployable System for manufacturing parts for aircraft repair and sustainment. Combining AI and robotics, the portable system enables WR-ALC to increase on-site production manufacturing for parts that have been difficult to source or are no longer being manufactured for aging aircraft.

The robotic system forms parts from a variety of materials, including lightweight, high-temperature metals like titanium and INCONEL. It comprises a portable platform, two 7-axis robotic arms, tool-changing corral, configurable frame, and AI-driven process controls. The system, which works with any industrial robot, can be transported on the back of a truck and up and running in a matter of hours on-premises, the company reports.

“The system will allow us to produce parts up to six months faster than traditional forming methods,” said Shane Groves, robotics and automation subject matter expert at WR-ALC. “The system also is easier to maintain and support than traditional forming equipment.”