
The Program Executive officer for Strategic Submarines this week said improvements in metallic additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, could lead to upward of an 80 percent reduction in the schedule to get components in new construction shipyards. Speaking during a panel discussion Monday at the American Society of Naval Engineers’ Technology, Systems and Ships Symposium, Matt Sermon said the Navy is investing in the ability to produce heavy metal parts via additive manufacturing, especially in castings, forgings, fittings, valves…