(API: Rockvile, MD) -- Automated Precision Inc. recently announced that its pioneering efforts in volumetric accuracy for large machine tools (VALMT) was recognized with a Defense Manufacturing Excellence Award presented by the National Center for Advanced Technologies (NCAT). The VALMT project was a collaborative effort under the direction of The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) and included partners Automated Precision Inc., The Boeing Corp., Siemens Energy and Automation, and MAG Cincinnati Machine, as well as, the DOD installations U.S. Air Force Logistics Center, Naval Foundry and Propeller Center, U.S. Navy Flight Readiness Center East, and the U.S. Army Anniston Depot.

Marketed today as API’s Volumetric Error Compensation (VEC), this innovative process establishes a new methodology in volumetric error compensation for large machine tools. VEC has proven to reduce machine tolerances six to 10 times over previous methods and the measurements can be finished in less than one day. It is estimated than the improvement over current assembly practices and measuring will save the Department of Defense (DOD) and the commercial aircraft industry millions of dollars annually.

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