Research Summaries

Back X3D Model Data Strategy for Navy Additive Manufacturing Digital Thread

Fiscal Year 2017
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department Naval Research Program
Investigator(s) Brutzman, Donald P.
Sponsor NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary X3D Graphics can enable a Model Data Strategy to meet multiple Navy needs for reusable 3D printing & scanning, export of CAD engineering assets, logistics, trusted information transfer, maintenance, simulation, training, and qualification. 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing already provide dramatic positive impacts in fleet experimentation. 3D scanning and Digital Thread (DT) add even more virtual assets, but lack of a Navy 3D strategy stifles reuse, interoperability and adaptability. Comprehensive approaches are needed for sharable
3D model libraries to provide new opportunities. Establishing a prototype X3D Naval Model Exchange enables practitioners to effectively explore new technical capabilities. Expected impacts are huge and immediate, since 3D printing turns "bits into atoms" and 3D scanning turns "atoms into bits," all of which must align with CAD designs.
Years of work have demonstrated that Extensible 3D (X3D) International Standard and open Web formats together provide comprehensive sharable solutions for afloat and ashore 3D challenges. Just as digital print libraries reduced space requirements by solving intellectual property requirements, 3D digital asset libraries can benefit the fleet if data and legal issues are resolved. This project demonstrates exemplars for full chain of 3D uses, focused on making Return on Investment (ROI) measurable.
Keywords
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal