GE Additive Print Services to support General Dynamics in AM production

A 3D-printed titanium cable guard has been transitioned to production by General Dynamics Land Systems and will be printed at GE Additive’s production facility in Pittsburgh. It will be the first 3D-printed metal production part installed on a U.S. ground combat vehicle.

Cincinnati-based GE Additive has been awarded a contract by General Dynamics Land Systems for GE Additive Print Services to support General Dynamics with part qualification, production, postprocessing, and inspection of additively manufactured (AM) components.

General Dynamics Land Systems is developing applications for AM on its combat vehicle platforms and is looking to GE Additive to help accelerate incorporation of this technology. General Dynamics and GE Additive are working together to identify applications in which AM can provide value through weight reduction, performance optimization, and lead-time reduction.

General Dynamics recently worked with GE Additive to transition a titanium cable guard to production. This one-piece titanium component was designed by General Dynamics to replace an 18-piece welded steel component, yielding an 85 percent weight savings compared with the existing part. The cable guard will be the first AM metal production part on a U.S. ground combat vehicle.

The part will be 3D printed for production on GE Additive Arcam EBM Q20plus machines, which are suitable for titanium alloys because the process takes place in vacuum at elevated temperatures, eliminating residual stress.