There’s little doubt that the next-generation technologies Bell and other industry partners are conceptualizing and developing will modernize the battlefield.
The question many posed, however, is whether Bell and its partners can produce these aircraft simultaneously at a rate and cost that fulfill contractual requirements. Enter Bell’s Manufacturing Technology Center, also known as the MTC, a digitally-connected proving ground for new manufacturing technologies and processes that Bell will deploy to its future factories.
Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the MTC will operate like a massive computer. Every inch of the 140,000-sq-ft [13,006 sq-m] facility will be monitored and controlled by a network of IT, IoT, and cybersecurity systems that manage the inflow and outflow of materials, as well as the movement of activity throughout the factory. Recent advancements in computer software, some of which are proprietary to Bell, have allowed the technology company to create such a facility. In fact, the MTC will deploy a networked software infrastructure to produce a digital twin of itself that communicates operational details about the equipment, processes, and operation—even the building itself.
The facility is spearheading the implementation of additive tooling capabilities to accelerate the iterations and learning cycles for composite part manufacturing. By establishing a framework for future factories, Bell has gained a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of additive manufacturing.
This streamlined approach will enable Bell to scale rapid prototyping of gearboxes, blades, and features for Bell’s future vertical lift products and next-generation technology. The new portfolio of aircraft would include Bell V-280 Valor, Bell 360 Invictus, and its high-speed vertical takeoff and landing (HSVTOL) concepts. The V-280 and 360 programs are designed to maintain a decisive advantage for U.S. Army and American aviation for decades to come.
Bell’s HSVTOL technology blends the hover capability of a helicopter with the speed, range, and survivability features of a fighter aircraft. With the convergence of tiltrotor aircraft capabilities, digital flight control advancements, and emerging propulsion technologies, Bell is primed to evolve HSVTOL technology for modern military missions to serve the next generation of warfighters.The implementation of additive manufacturing at the MTC will help enable our engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and other functional support teams to work together with enhanced efficiency as Bell defines the future of vertical lift.
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