Virtual prototyping (VP) is an area where huge advances have been made. As gear and transmission systems, and the methods of their production, become more complex and more interdependent, finding ways to use VP across the entire development process—from the initial design, through analysis, right up to manufacturing—ultimately means gaining a better understanding of system performance and efficiency.

Applying their Materials by Design methodologies, QuesTek Innovations has expanded their ICME framework under US Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to adapt their high-performance Ferrium C64 gear steel to AM processes to demonstrate printability across multiple systems, achieve AMS minimum tensile properties, and observe a positive response to heat treatment.