AM post-processing training cell added to Rock Island Arsenal
September 10, 2020
Phillips Federal, a division of Phillips Corporation, Hannover, Maryland, USA, has added post-processing technologies from Bel Air Finishing, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA, to support its Public Private Partnership (P3) and Additive Manufacturing programmes at the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) Innovation Center, Rock Island, Illinois, USA.
Bel Air and Phillips Federal partnered to install a fully-operational training cell that will develop expertise in the post-processing of metal and plastic additively manufactured components. The training cell will be available for use by the US Federal Government and qualified Department of Defense contractors involved in Additive Manufacturing at the RIA.
Steve Alviti, Bel Air Finishing, stated, “The Bel Air team is very excited to combine with Phillips Federal to teach the various technologies of post-processing, which is mostly overlooked in the AM process. The training facility will make printing efforts more efficient along with more effective products by bringing the level of printed surfaces to meet or exceed traditional subtractive surfaces.”
The training cell includes automated build removal capabilities, surface grinding, polishing, cleaning, and its own closed loop water feed system. Bel Air personnel will reportedly present a number of Phillips Federal-scheduled training workshop presentations.
John Harrison of Phillips Federal commented, “Additive Manufacturing typically doesn’t stop with the print. The addition of Bel Air Systems to the innovation centre will add automated finishing know-how from the leaders in additive post-processing.”
