Machina Labs’ new system enables on-site production of parts at a Georgia military base.
LOS ANGELES—Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC) at Robins Air Force Base is using a portable manufacturing system from Machina Labs to increase on-site production manufacturing of parts that have been difficult to source or are no longer being manufactured for aging aircraft, Machina Labs said in a release.
Waner Robins Air Logistics Complex at Robins Air Force Base is reported to be the first organization in the U.S. Air Force to use Machina Labs’ Deployable System. The system combines AI and robotics to rapidly manufacture advanced composite and metal products. It is currently being used by WR-ALC to produce precision metal formed parts for repair and sustainment on aircraft platforms at the Georgia military base, according to the release.
Sustaining aging aircraft can be challenging and expensive, especially when it comes to finding replacement parts. Many older aircraft have components that are no longer in production, or legacy suppliers that are no longer in business. Machina’s technology enables Robins Air Force Base to overcome these challenges and rapidly begin producing parts immediately after setting up the Deployable System—and at a lower cost than traditional methods, the company said.
“We are proud to support Robins Air Force Base and provide an esteemed branch of the Department of Defense with the capability to repair and sustain aircraft and return the platforms back to service in an unprecedented timeframe,” said Machina Labs CEO and Co-Founder Edward Mehr, in the release. “This important work with Robins Air Force Base is another example of how Machina Labs is delivering on our mission to develop manufacturing solutions that give organizations the ability to design and manufacture with ease and iterate and produce rapidly.”
The Machina Deployable System is said to combine robotic precision with the dexterity of a craftsman. It can form parts from a variety of materials, including lightweight, high-temperature metals like titanium and Inconel, materials that previously have been challenging to form, the company said.
The system consists of a portable platform, two 7-axis robotic arms, tool-changing corral, configurable frame, and AI-driven process controls. It can be transported on the back of a truck and can be up and running, on-premises, in a matter of hours. It can work with any industrial robot, according to the release.
“The system will allow us to produce parts up to six months faster than traditional forming methods,” said Shane Groves, robotics and automation subject matter expert at WR-ALC, in the release. “The system also is easier to maintain and support than traditional forming equipment.”
Robins Air Force Base, located 100 miles south of Atlanta and 16 miles south of Macon, is reportedly the largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia, employing nearly 24,000 civilians, contractors, and military members.