NCMS is partnering with the Department of Energy to identify and develop critical manufacturing technologies vital to the affordable manufacturing of alternative energy systems.  We are issuing a call for Concept Papers which will be used to select projects to be funded by this program.  

NCMS is interested in Concept Papers in the following areas:

• Advanced composite manufacturing technologies that will enable process automation for wind blade manufacturing including process automation and advanced curing technologies for higher throughput. 
• Advanced joining technologies to reduce the cost of manufacturing and installing wind turbines. 

Collaborations are expected.

Available Funding / Cost Share Requirements

Approximately $220,000 of funding is available for each project, which will require an additional 1:1 cost share.  

Timeline

Two page Concept Papers need to be emailed to Chuck Ryan, chuckr@ncms.org by 5 pm EST, March 31, 2010.  Please follow the attached template.  Selected teams will be asked to develop a larger proposal (12-15 pages) based on the same template. 

NCMS Membership Requirement

NCMS is a non-profit membership organization.  Project Participants must become NCMS members for those collaborative teams who are asked to submit a larger proposal.   Please see our website for details:  www.ncms.org  

Please direct any questions to Chuck Ryan via email.

Chuck Ryan, Ph.D.
Vice President, Technology
chuckr@ncms.org

Concept Proposal Format and Instructions Template.doc (56.50 kb)

The NCMS Volumetric Accuracy for Large Machine Tools (VALMT) project is the subject of an article in the latest issue of Quality Digest.

...The entire measurement process can be accomplished in a matter of hours rather than days, resulting in more accurate measurements and eliminating costly machine downtime. Calibration is performed in a single set-up with automated measurement of hundreds of points and is completed in just a few hours compared to alternate methods that can take much longer. By accomplishing the measurement task in such a short timeframe, the measurement data is far more reliable.

The VALMT project has pioneered an innovative process in establishing a new methodology in volumetric error compensation for large machine tools which can save the Department of Defense (DOD) and the commercial aircraft industry millions of dollars anually. 

Full Article

Jim Dallam from MAG Industrial Automation Systems joins NCMS radio to discuss the award winning Volumetric Accuracy for Large Machine Tools (VALMT) project.  

VALMT has pioneered an innovative process in establishing a new methodology in volumetric error compensation for large machine tools which will reduce the amount of reworking of machined parts during onsite vehicle assembly and save the Department of Defense (DOD) and the commercial aircraft industry millions of dollars. 

NCMS Radio- “Collaborate, Innovate, Commercialize- Volumetric Accuracy for Large Machine Tools (VALMT) Project Success Story”- Jim Dallam  MAG Industrial Automation System (13:39)

Subscribe to NCMS Radio on iTunes- search for NCMS.

NCMS and one of its consortia teams have been active, along with SME, industry and government advocates, in the formation of the ASTM F42 Additive Manufacturing Committee.  Constance Philips, Senior Program Manager for NCMS' RARE Parts through Rapid Manufacturing & Repair consortium, which has been continuously working to apply rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing technologies since 1991, began serving a second term as Membership Secretary to the F-42 Additive Manufacturing Committee in January 2010.  She is also a contributing member of the Terminology Subcommittee F42.91.

Other F-42 Committee Officers are:
Chairman: Brent Stucker, Utah State University
Vice Chairman: Carl Dekker, Met-L-Flo Inc.
Recording Secretary: Richard Hague, Loughborough University

Full Press Rlease

Current DoD Participants: Marine Corps Maintenance Center, Albany; Marine Corps Maintenance Center, Barstow; Army Project Manager, Light Tactical Vehicles; Marine Corps Program Executive Officer, Land Systems

The DoD is facing severe challenges in their tactical ground combat equipment to provide added ballistic protection and survivability to the warfighters, but the added weight increases rollover events, and decreases vehicle performance such as fuel economy, speed, and acceleration.  In addition, vehicle suspension and engine wear are further taxed by the added weight.

This project will work with the PM-Tactical Vehicles to identify weight savings opportunities on the HMMWV applicable to currently fielded vehicles.  The project will:

1. Design an appropriate solution retrofit structure applicable to the deformation resistance welding (DRW) method for the HMMWV.
2. Fabricate the retrofit DRW subcomponent/frame.
3. Mount the subcomponent/frame onto the platform.
4. Validate the performance of the retrofitted platform.
5. Assess the technology as a repair manufacturing method for other systems such as pipe repair on ships.

For more information please contact:  

NCMS Vice President Chuck Ryan, chuckr@ncms.org, (734)995-4905.

Don Bell (WR-ALC), Sam Easley (Boeing), Ben Thompson (FRC-East), Rick Jarman (NCMS),

Rich Curless (MAG Industries), Lisa Phelps (Boeing)

Members of Volumetric Accuracy for Large Machine Tools (VALMT) project team collect the Defense Manufacturing Excellence Award at the 2009 Defense Manufacturing Conference.  It is the seventh such award for NCMS.  The Defense Manufacturing Excellence Awards are presented by the National Center for Advanced Technologies (NCAT) for outstanding cooperative efforts on technology development between government, industry and academia.

"...The kind of innovation that Tony and the guys at NCMS are bringing to the table is exactly what the manufacturing industry in the U.S. needs.  Saving millions through enhanced efficiency is a building block to substantially increased competitiveness on a global stage."

Full Article- Industry is Cool: National Center for Manufacturing Sciences

Ultra Precise Calibration Process Will Save DOD Millions Annually

ANN ARBOR, MI – December 2, 2009.  The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) today announced that its Volumetric Accuracy for Large Machine Tools (VALMT) project has pioneered an innovative process in establishing a new methodology in volumetric error compensation for large machine tools.  The costs for current assembly practices of measuring and fitting are substantial; reducing the amount of reworking of machined parts during onsite vehicle assembly will save the Department of Defense (DOD) and the commercial aircraft industry millions of dollars. 

“The innovative VALMT project will save the DOD millions while ensuring weapon systems are mission ready and available for our warfighters when they need them,” said NCMS Vice President Chuck Ryan.  “This technology will also pave the way for reducing the manufacturing costs of commercial ships and aircraft, benefiting both government and industry”

The success of the VALMT project was recognized this week with a Defense Manufacturing Excellence Award presented by the National Center for Advanced Technologies (NCAT), the seventh award of its kind given to NCMS for its outstanding cooperative efforts on technology development between government, industry and academia.

"This groundbreaking process will dramatically reduce assembly and fitting costs which represent up to 1% of the total cost per aircraft," said Sam Easley, Engineer/Scientist, Metallic Processes at The Boeing Company.  "On large programs like the F-18 or the 700 series, we could save $100 million per year."

“VALMT has the potential to save the U.S. Navy money and shave valuable time off of vessel construction costs, putting assets where they are most needed, with the warfighter.” said Faris Ibrahim, Mechanical Engineer of the Naval Foundry and Propeller Center.
 
The VALMT project teamed private industry (Automated Precision Inc., The Boeing Corporation, Siemens Energy and Automation and MAG Cincinnati Machine, LLC) and the DOD (U.S. Air Force Logistics Center, Naval Foundry and Propeller Center, U.S. Navy Fleet Readiness Center East, and the U.S. Army Anniston Depot) using the NCMS R&D collaborative process to quickly develop this groundbreaking technology.

“The success of the VALMT project rests heavily on the technical expertise and collaborative R&D experience of the NCMS and its partners,” stated Richard Curless, CTO at MAG Industrial, “The NCMS has been a leader in bringing government and industry together to create usable technologies for over 23 years and this project is just another of many feathers in their proverbial cap.”

About NCMS

The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) is the largest cross-industry collaborative research and development consortium in North America, and is the only consortia effort in the U.S. devoted exclusively to manufacturing technologies, processes and practices. NCMS has over 20 years of experience in the formation and management of complex, multi-partner collaborative R&D programs, and is backed by corporate members representing virtually every manufacturing sector.

The NCMS-CTMA project, Laser Coating Removal of Composite Helicopter Blades, successfully installed a production-ready paint stripping unit at Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) East.  The ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks by RDML Tim Matthews COMFRC, Col.Scott Loch (Commander FRC East), CAPT Stephen E. Iwanowicz (Commander, NUWC Division Keyport) as well as remarks from maintainers from the paint stripping shop. Following the ceremony, attendees took a tour of the FRC East facilities.

NCMS won the award for the best booth in the large booth category at the Symposium.  The NCMS booth showcased four of our collaborative project teams: Kinetic Spray, AP&IG, 3FAST, and CH-53E Readiness & Reliability.

The Marines won the booth competition in the military category.  This is noteworthy because NCMS produced their video and presentation that was the centerpiece of their booth.  This broad exposure of our capabilities is leading to new business from the show.

Watch the USMC Sense & Respond Video