Metals technician reflects on how far technology has come with 3D printing

Master Sgt. Michael Howard, aircraft metals technician 911th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight, uses a computer-aided design program to send a CAD file of an aircraft part file to a 3D printer for production at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, May 10, 2021. The use of 3D printing for prototyping and testing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft parts allows the shop to reduce precious metal material waste and increase productivity by freeing up production machine time. (U.S. Air Force photo byTech Sgt. Richard Kaulfers)

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Splish, splash, I was... positioning a metal block on the water jet cutting table

Master Sgt. Michael Howard, aircraft metals technician of the 911th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight, makes adjustments to a metal hold-down block during the calibration process of the water jet cutting tool at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, March 10, 2021. Automated tools allow the technicians to increase shop productivity when parts are made with consistent accuracy in less time than manual production methods. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Richard Kaulfers)

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Ready, set, jet, water jet

Master Sgt. Michael Howard, aircraft metals technician of the 911th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight, monitors the automated water jet cutting machine during the initial cutting process of an aircraft part at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, May 10, 2021. Metals technicians use a variety of sophisticated tools to produce and repair aircraft parts in-house from stock material. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Richard Kaulfers)

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Deburring edge for final fabrication graze

Staff Sgt. Ryan Burick, 911th Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technician, uses a hand file to deburr the sharp edge of a C-17 Globemaster III component after removing the part from a CNC machine at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station May 10, 2021. The 911th MXS fabrication flight received several CNC machines to support the new C-17 flying mission maintenance requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Richard Kaulfers)

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Almost finished metal fabrication

Staff Sgt. Ryan Burick, 911th Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technician, adjusts the placement of a C-17 Globemaster III component inside a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, May 10, 2021. Metals technicians use CNC machines to produce and repair components in support of the C-17 mission on base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Richard Kaulfers)

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Ding, parts are done

Master Sgt. Michael Howard, 911th Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technician, reaches for the door of the fabrication flight's first 3D printer to remove a prototype aircraft part at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, May 10, 2021. The added 3D printing capabilities allow the fabrication flight to create and test replacement components before using final production stock metal materials. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Richard Kaulfers)

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Printer produces prototype parts

Airmen assigned to the 911th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight use a new 3D printer to create a test part for the C-17 Globemaster III at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, May 10, 2021. Test parts produced with the new 3D polymer printer reduce precious metals production materials waste costs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Richard Kaulfers)

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Ding, parts are done: 911th MXG 3D prints, creates, refines aircraft parts

Published May 14, 2021
By Tech. Sgt. Richard Kaulfers

PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. --

Airmen assigned to the 911th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight use a new 3D printer to create a test part for the C-17 Globemaster III at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, May 10, 2021. Test parts produced with the new 3D polymer printer reduce precious metals production materials waste costs.

Metals technician reflects on how far technology has come with 3D printing

Splish, splash, I was... positioning a metal block on the water jet cutting table

Ready, set, jet, water jet

Deburring edge for final fabrication graze

Almost finished metal fabrication

Ding, parts are done

Printer produces prototype parts