U.S. Army and WSU to 3D print Black Hawk helicopter components - 3D Printing Industry

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) will be partnering up with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) to create a comprehensive virtual 3D model of a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter. By completely disassembling the airframe and components of the helicopter, the researchers will be able to 3D scan each structural part individually to create a “digital twin” of the transport aircraft. Eventually, once the catalog of digital parts is complete, the U.S. Army hopes to 3D print some of the more niche components that are difficult to source in 2020.