SCRA Applied R&D’s F-35 Canopy Thermoforming Automation project won the 2014 Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award.
The project, a joint effort between SCRA Applied R&D, the Office of Naval Research, Naval Air Systems Command and GKN Advanced Transparency Systems, will save the F-35 Lightning II Program as much as $125 million by automating the forming of advanced fighter canopies, according to a release.
Previously, forming canopies required highly skilled operators to frequently enter high-temperature ovens to adjust the forming process based on visual feedback. The new process eliminates the need for operators to enter high-temperature ovens, and uses a vision system to continuously and precisely adjust the forming process.
The award is sponsored by the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP), and is given to teams comprised of both government and private sector members who are responsible for outstanding projects in manufacturing technology.
