Lightweight Track Technology - Scot Forge / Mich Tech

Scot Forge, a leading manufacturer of open and semi-closed die forging and innovator of forging technologies, is submitting a proposal to look at non-traditional track shoe manufacturing processes in an effort to decrease the cost, weight and maintenance while increasing the water track speed performance relative to the T157I track, currently being used on the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV).Scot Forge’s capabilities also include closed die manufacturing so traditional processes are also available if faster, less expensive options are found to not be capable of meeting the requested design criteria.Scot Forge is teaming with Michigan Technological University’s Keweenaw Research Center (KRC). KRC has decades of track design, analysis and testing capability including the light weight track design used for the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV). The EFV track designed by KRC used innovative design concepts to meet the weight and life goals including, but not limited to, segmentation and nylon pad plates. Scot Forge is proposing a paper study in Phase I with a limited manufacturability and material property study for the Phase I Option. KRC’s AAV track design experience will be utilized to guide the manufacturability study of this Phase 1 SBIR.