British Army Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence

from The Craftsman - July 2022

by Official_REME

EXERCISE IRON HORSE EUROPE, 26 February – 13 March 2022

Corps News

British Army Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence

Scribe: Capt Tom Warner (5 FS Bn REME)

PUMA UAS Battery charger prototype Brigadier King’s visit to the CoE

It all started with a basic hobby level printer and a big ambition. Since then, Additive Manufacturing (AM), more commonly known as ‘3D printing’, has caused significant interest as a concept and its use has developed from an idea, into a state-of-the-art capability within 1 Fd Coy, 5 Bn REME.

As part of an AHQ ten-year business case, AM is at the forefront of Advanced Manufacturing (AdM) and provides a considerable force multiplier to conventual manufacturing. Whilst the AM Platoon focuses solely on additive technology, the AdM Centre of Excellence (CoE) includes the application of more traditional subtractive

CRARRV PTO Alignment tool

PUMA UAS Battery charger prototype location TROJAN to AVRE trailer connector

manufacturing such as Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) mills, lathes, metal bending and manipulation. This combined capability is a step change in the Corps’ ability to manufacture, enables experimentation and manufacture critical spares, right down to ground level.

Situated in Lyneham, AHQ has invested heavily in this capability; in providing over £3 million of specialist machining, printing and designing capability. 5 Bn REME has been tasked with establishing the Army’s only AdM Centre of Excellence (CoE) and AM Platoon. The CoE is the spearhead of AdM capability in the Army; bringing the capability into general service focusing on deployability and leading into the DTI programme.

Whilst AM has many uses the Platoon are also authorised for Expedient Repair on non-safety critical components, allowing the Army to rapidly prototype replacement parts for in and inter mission repair; maximising equipment availability. Cutting repair downtime and resupply timelines down from weeks or days to hours. The CoE, through the AM Platoon, is delivering

CR2 Gunner sight eye piece

significant output supporting multiple operations and exercises in both the deployed space and support from the home bank. This is rapidly increasing.

The CoE is also a deployable capability. The ‘Makerspace’ is a bespoke self-sustaining vehicle to offer AM capability to deployed units. It is a containerised, vehicle mounted capability that is currently operating at reach on Op CABRIT and deploying with US forces on Ex DEFENDER. They can deploy on any UK exercise upon request through the CoE and can design, scan, print and even recycle AM solutions for 1st or 2nd line units.

The AM Platoon is equipped with over 15 different printers ranging from the Ultimaker 3 all the way to the industry leading Stratasys F370 and F450. This enables the Platoon to print items in different materials; from Polylactic Acid (TPU) and Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (PLA) material, great for rapid prototyping with heat and chemical resistance capabilities, through to carbon fibre infused nylon (Nylon 12 CF), which can offer a lightweight and high strength characteristics alternative to traditional metals.

SSgt D Feather in Mali

Each member of the Platoon is trained on the use of CAD software such as Solidworks with the CoE providing bespoke training packages on request to outside organisations. They can create designs from engineering drawings measure by hand, or scan using LIDAR or LASER 3D scanners. These designs can be replicated or modified to meet any requirement.

Whilst only in its first year of service, the AM Platoon has proven itself to be an asset with a reputation for innovation and

SSgt D Feather En route to Mali

Stratasys F370 AM Examples table

AM Pl Workshop

professionalism befitting its status as the lead for AM in the British Army. As AM technology continues to grow, the reputation and capabilities of the Platoon with links and attachments with industry will only continue to grow. This is a capability open for utility throughout the Army. Please contact the unit for training, use case development, experimentation, experience and SME advice either in camp or deployed.