America Makes’ MMX 2019 Convenes in Youngstown

America Makes announces that it is convening its annual, two-day Members Meeting and Exchange (MMX), October 22-23, 2019, at the Henry H. Stambaugh Auditorium ballroom in Youngstown. The Institute’s Platinum-level member, Deloitte Consulting, LLC, and Gold-level member, SME are MMX Diamond Sponsors.

Each year, America Makes hosts its MMX event to bring the additive community together in Youngstown to impart the latest information on the Institute; report on and review technical content as it relates to additive manufacturing (AM) research projects; and provide an opportunity for members to network and collaborate.

Driven by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), America Makes is a collaborative partner in AM technology research, discovery, creation and innovation. It is the first of eight Manufacturing Innovation Institutes established and managed by the U.S. Department of Defense as public-private partnerships. America Makes is also a member of the Manufacturing USA network, which seeks to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing.

“We’re excited to have senior-level representatives from the Department of Defense’s Joint Additive Manufacturing Steering Group (JAMSG), the Department of Energy, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other military services at MMX to present their challenges and opportunities in AM,” says America Makes Executive Director John Wilczynski. “The value of this year’s speaker lineup is tremendous.”

America Makes has planned a strong and dynamic MMX speaker lineup for the two-day event, most notably, Alan C. Pentz, Ph.D., Additive Manufacturing Implementation Lead, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy – Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) and Major General William T. Cooley, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Dr. Pentz will share JAMSG insight with MMX attendees. He has more than 20 years of experience evaluating gas turbine engine designs, propulsion technical risk, and structural life management issues across the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps aircraft inventory. He also leads NAVAIR’s Propulsion and Power Department efforts to establish structural policies and qualification guidelines for such advanced disruptive technologies as AM and ceramic matrix composites.

Maj. Gen. Cooley will focus his remarks on AFRL’s 2030 goals, specifically how manufacturing collaborations and AM are vital to achieving those objectives. America Makes is managed by AFRL under the DoD Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program through the Defense-wide Manufacturing Science and Technology Program—OSD, Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy. Maj. Gen. Cooley is responsible for managing a $2.5 billion U.S. Air Force science and technology program and an additional $2.3 billion in externally funded research and development. He is also responsible for leading a government workforce of approximately 6,000 people in the laboratory's nine component technology directorates and the 711th Human Performance Wing.

Other MMX 2019 speakers include:

• Brent Brunell, senior executive – Additive Technology Leader, GE Research;
• Michael Gorelik, Ph.D., chief scientist and technical advisor for Fatigue and Damage Tolerance, Federal Aviation Administration
• Blake Marshall, technology manager, Advanced Manufacturing Office, Department of Energy
• Nelson K. Williams, Ph.D., chief, Sustainment Maintenance Division, U.S. Army
• Jennifer Wolk, Ph.D., program officer, Office of Naval Research

“I also want to recognize Deloitte and SME for their Diamond-level sponsorships, as well as all our other MMX sponsors,” adds Wilczynski. “Their continued support of the America Makes mission and our community is very much appreciated.”

MMX is also sponsored by:

Tier I Sponsors: Humtown Products and OpenAdditive, a Universal Technology Corporation company

Tier II Sponsors: ASTM International and The Barnes Group Advisors LLC

Tier III Sponsors: AddUp, ASME, Catalyst Connection, and Bluestreak | Bright AM™

Tier IV Sponsors: The Technology House, AMT—The Association for Manufacturing Technology and NSL Analytical Services, Inc.

Media Sponsors: Digital Engineering and The TCT Group

Reception Sponsor: Juggetbot3D

On Tuesday, October 22, MMX will commence at 8:00 a.m. with opening remarks to be made by America Makes Executive Director John Wilczynski followed by remarks from Dr. Alan Pentz.

David Storer, Manager of Real Estate Development for Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA), will make an announcement about the Pittsburgh Airport Innovation Campus.

Based on direct feedback that America Makes received from its member community, MMX 2019 will feature several moderated, panel discussions. These panel discussions will focus on areas of interest to the membership community, including small business engagement challenges, the America Makes Satellite Center model, Women in 3D Printing and additive standards.

America Makes will also announce on Tuesday the awardees of its Distinguished Collaborator Award, as well as the Class of 2019 America Makes Ambassadors. Established in 2014, the America Makes Distinguished Collaborator Award recognizes an individual or a group of individuals with commitment and dedication to the advancement of AM technology, practices and innovation in the manufacturing industry. Launched in 2017, the Ambassador Program recognizes and appreciates individuals who continually demonstrate dedication to America Makes and its mission.

Tuesday will conclude with a networking reception at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor. Owned by the Ohio Historical Society and operated by America Makes Platinum-level member Youngstown State University, the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor preserves the history of the steel industry that dominated the Youngstown area's economic life for much of the 20th century.

On Wednesday, October 23, Bill Walch, NCDMM program manager, will report out on AMNOW, a program to support AM technology insertion into the existing U.S. Army supply chain. The AMNOW program launched in April 2019 with the award of the initial phase, which was secured jointly by NCDMM in partnership with Catalyst Connection.

Maj. Gen. Cooley, Commander of AFRL will then address MMX attendees.

Later in the day, NCDMM’s Scott Crynock, senior project engineer and Joe Veranese, corporate services director will present on the America Makes Technology Roadmap and Digital Storefront refresh efforts.

Optional MMX Activity

On Thursday, October 24, a Design for AM (DfAM) Course for Managers and Executives will be offered by Wohlers Associates. This special one-day course is designed for those wanting to better understand the most important and relevant DfAM strategies, opportunities, and challenges. Wohlers Associates instructors are Terry Wohlers, Principal Consultant & President, and Ray Huff, Associate Engineer & Instructor. This DfAM course is being offered with support from the Additive Manufacturing Cluster of OH. Registrationthrough Wohlers Associates is required for this course.

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