First AM Valve Manifold on US Navy Aircraft Carrier

The additively manufactured manifold on US aircraft carrier Enterprise CVN 80.

HII, America’s largest shipbuilder and a global defense provider, has announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division in Virginia, has successfully installed the first additively manufactured valve manifold assembly on a new construction aircraft carrier. NNS collaborated with DM3D Technology, Auburn Hills, Michigan, to manufacture the manifold body.

The valve manifold assembly, a specialized assembly that allows the distribution of a single source of fluid to multiple points on the ship, is installed in a pump room on the Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise. The assembly is approximately 1.5 m long and 450 kg and was produced utilizing Directed Energy Deposition (DED).

Following the successful installation on the Enterprise, it was stated that similar manifolds planned for the Doris Miller will employ AM rather than traditional casting methods. This will help reduce schedule risk and improve efficiency.

“What started as a proof of concept quickly turned into a tangible result that is making a meaningful difference to improve efficiencies in shipbuilding,” stated Dave Bolcar, NNS vice president of engineering and design. “The benefits of this innovation will extend well beyond Enterprise, as we incorporate our expertise in metal AM into the fundamentals of shipbuilding.”