Manufacturing Applications Branch

The Manufacturing Applications Branch is a combination of the Metals Applications Technology and Fabrications Technology Branches. 

Provides a variety of fabrication technologies enabling the development of research-oriented hardware for aeronautics, space exploration, and scientific programs at Langley Research Center. We develop one-of-a-kind test specimens, employing special fabrication techniques applicable to additive manufacturing, composites, plastics, polymers, and laser ablation.

Advanced Manufacturing and Composite Capabilities

• 3 & 5 Axis CNC Machining
• Autoclaves
• Automated Ply Cutter
• Additive Manufacturing Systems – FDM/plastics, SLA/resins, SLM/metallics
  and Projet Wax Printing
• Brazing
• Composites Processing Lab
• Computer Aided Design (CAD) – Additive Manufacturing
• Coatings/Paint Booths
• Electron Beam Free Form Fabrication System – wire additive
• Freezers – Storage of Prepreg Composite Materials
• Grinding Room
• Instrumentation – Test Articles
• Integrated Structural Assembly of Advanced Composites (ISAAC) housed in
  a ISO 7 Cleanroom Cell w/independent temperature and humidity control
• Kilns/Ovens
• Large Surface Tables for Layup & Assembly
• Laser Ablation System
• Laser Trackers
• Materials Casting (Ceramic Models/Test Articles)
• Overhead Cranes and Forklifts
• Plastics Room – Adhesives, Resins, Paints, Solvents, etc.
• Test Article and Tunnel Model Fabrication
• Toolomg & Patterns
• Precision Composites Machining
• Classified Work Areas/Cells

Provides a variety of fabrication technologies enabling the development of research-oriented hardware for aeronautics, space exploration, and scientific programs at Langley Research Center. We develop space flight certified hardware and one-of-a-kind test articles, employing special fabrication techniques applicable to multi-axis high speed machining, electronics discharge machining, preseason machining, water jet processing, and complex metals fabrication.

Expertise

• Computer Aided NC Machine Programing
• 3 and 5 Axis Programing/Machining
• Multi-Axis Turning Center Programing/Machining
• Multi-Axis Electronic Discharge Machining (EDM)
• Precision Machining
• Water-jet Processing, Programing and Operation
• Metallic Test Article Assembly
• Complex Metals Fabrication
• Welding, TIG, MIG, SMAW
• Concurrent Design and Build
• Plasma Arc Cutting

Services

• High Fidelity Metallic Wind Tunnel Models
• Space Flight Hardware
• Flight Test Articles
• Prototype Development
• Manufacturing Demonstration Units
• Metallic Test Articles

Labs

• Advanced Machining Development Center
• Flight Test Article Development Lab
• Innovation Fabrication (iFab) Lab
• Water-Jet Processing Lab

Branch Management