At an occasion organized by the European Defence Company (EDA), Rheinmetall offered the Cell Sensible Manufacturing facility, a brand new resolution for cellular manufacturing through 3D printing of spare components for navy autos.

The Cell Sensible Manufacturing facility (MSF) delivers metallic 3D printing and postprocessing capabilities and is totally built-in into Rheinmetall’s IRIS (Built-in Rheinmetall Data System) digital ecosystem.

The MSF consists of two 20-foot cellular transport containers, one serving as an workplace container and the opposite as a manufacturing container. The workplace container homes an air-conditioned workstation and cupboard space. A polymer printer and a handheld scanner for high quality management are additionally a part of the workplace container. The manufacturing container is provided with a Metrom P7000, a 6-axis hybrid machine. This machine shouldn’t be restricted to wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) know-how. An built-in CNC milling facility additionally permits on-site ending and postprocessing. The mixed welding and CNC functionality offers Battle Harm Restore personnel further choices for repairing and overhaul. That is why the MSF additionally lives as much as its title of “Cell Sensible Manufacturing facility”.

Throughout the first half of 2023, Rheinmetall acquired the decentralized manufacturing division of Bionic Manufacturing GmbH. The enterprise divisions of the startup Bionic Manufacturing, beforehand majority-owned by Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA AG), had been acquired by Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH and Autoflug GmbH. The acquisition course of was accomplished throughout the first two quarters of 2023.

Whereas Autoflug GmbH is increasing the areas of 3D printing contract manufacturing and blockchain know-how, Rheinmetall is constant the decentralized manufacturing phase by advancing the Cell Sensible Manufacturing facility container resolution.

The machine can produce elements with a most dimension of 700 mm in diameter and 450 mm in top. All weldable wires and polymers can be utilized. The metallic deposition fee is as much as 600 cm3/h (cubic centimeters per hour).

What makes the Cell Sensible Manufacturing facility distinctive is its integration into the IRISplatform. As an OEM of navy autos, Rheinmetall understands the significance of safe knowledge trade and lifelong product monitoring of printed components, together with high quality assurance. The cloud-enabled IRISplatform permits the totally built-in operation of the IRISwork and IRISfleet software program purposes with the MSF, assembly IT safety requirements as much as NATO Restricted.

IRISwork gives operators and upkeep personnel with entry to technical documentation and spare components catalogs, whereas IRISfleet is a fleet administration instrument that paperwork the set up of a particular printed half on a particular car. IRISfleet shops all related details about the printed half and retains a digital product passport to make sure system safety. IRIS know-how additionally contains entry to distant assist from business, engineers, high quality assurance, and so on.

The collaborative multitenant IRIS platform permits the armed forces and protection business to combine companions right into a safe community, offering quickly deployable additive capabilities for the fashionable battlefield.