Babcock International Group (Babcock), the defense company and trusted partner of the British Army & UK MOD, is overcoming the long-standing industry challenge of part obsolescence with the help of Plastometrex, an advanced mechanical testing technology provider. Babcock has successfully leveraged Plastometrex’s novel “PIP Testing” technology to enable timely and highly informed reverse-engineering of obsolete parts for Additive Manufacturing (AM) production, making mission-critical parts available for their customers in record time and with even higher assurances of part performance.
Many defense assets rely on legacy parts that are no longer available in the supply chain. With AM enabling rapid manufacturing of small batches or one-off parts, it addresses the significant issue of part obsolescence faced by the defence industry. To enhance their capabilities and maintain speed through the AM part design and qualification process, Babcock has formed a strategic partnership with Plastometrex, leveraging their innovative Benchtop Plastometer for the mechanical testing of AM parts, conducted by Babcock partners, Additure.
While traditional tensile testing of AM parts usually relies on witness coupons, PIP (Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry) testing enables users to test directly on a 3D-printed part and in multiple locations, delivering a significantly more detailed understanding of the mechanical properties of the part in a fraction of the time. Further, the Benchtop Plastometer serves as an easily deployable solution that also eliminates the need for extensive machining capability to carry out these tests.
Where obsolete parts lack design data, Babcock will utilize PIP to rapidly build up a comprehensive understanding of each part’s mechanical properties, allowing them to reverse engineer and additively manufacture new parts that are fit for purpose.
Dr. Max Burley, Chief Hardware Engineer at Plastometrex had this to add: “With this partnership between Babcock and Plastometrex, AM retrofits are no longer limited by long turnaround times or poor-quality assurance procedures. We are incredibly excited to play a part in revolutionizing how MRO services are delivered across industries with unprecedented speed and precision.”
The potential that AM represents to the defense industry is undeniable. Through their collaboration, Babcock and Plastometrex are now proving that this exciting new technology isn’t just promising, but that the adoption of AM is both realistic and achievable.
