Design, Engineering, and Fabrication
APL innovations enabled humankind’s closest approach to the Sun and the world’s first-ever planetary defense mission; created a standard for cybersecurity for industrial control systems; led to the development of the world’s first neurally integrated prosthetic limb; and are paving the way to breakthrough technology in operational quantum sensors.
At APL, our culture of taking bold risks, brought to life through inventive prototyping and informed by deep technical expertise, is the basis for our efforts to not merely anticipate the future, but create it.
Capabilities
Electronics Design and Fabrication →
We provide an integrated capability to build hardware ranging from quick-turn prototypes to fully qualified spaceflight assemblies and from nanoscales up to fully integrated electronic packages for deployment on land, undersea, and on space systems.
Mechanical Fabrication →
Our science-based manufacturing and prototyping facility provides full-spectrum support, from conceptual R&D through configured hardware production.
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering →
We excel in electrical and mechanical engineering, mechatronics, electronics packaging, systems integration, and multiscale modeling.
Featured Labs and Facilities
Additive Manufacturing Center
The Additive Manufacturing Center (AMC) adds value to sponsored programs in ways that cannot be achieved by traditional manufacturing. The AMC has a growing suite of industrial additive manufacturing machines (currently four polymer and two metal additive manufacturing systems) and multiple experimental test-bed printers. The center is advancing the state-of-the-art capabilities in additive manufacturing through applied materials research and development and integration of innovative process control methods to maximize the potential of enabling novel hardware solutions for critical challenges.
Advanced Electrical Fabrication Laboratory
The Advanced Electrical Fabrication (AEF) Laboratory provides a variety of capabilities. Our subject-matter experts can advise on novel manufacturing techniques, provide design for manufacturing guidance, and facilitate fabrication needs. From forward-leaning nanoscale research to high-reliability spacecraft assembly to quick-turn deployable prototypes, the AEF Lab is ready to physically realize products in a number of domains, such as printed circuit boards, electrical assembly, advanced plating, and micro/nanofabrication.
Mechanical Fabrication Laboratory
The Mechanical Fabrication facility delivers prototypes and fully qualified hardware for complex systems (such as space and undersea) and research programs. Our diverse and exceptionally talented staff utilizes the unique manufacturing capabilities in a 24,000-square-foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which includes CNC multi-axis milling and turning, welding, precision sheet metal fabrication, laser engraving, and waterjet and laser cutting. Our experts engage with engineers, designers, and sponsors throughout the Laboratory, providing recommendations on manufacturing feasibility and ensuring their hardware goals are achieved.
Pushing the Boundaries of Bold Innovation
Concept Design and Realization
The Concept Design and Realization Branch within APL’s Research and Exploratory Development Department provides an array of engineering, design, and fabrication capabilities that broadly support the Laboratory’s mission and sponsored work. Learn more about the wide-ranging work of the branch and how it directly contributes to APL’s position as a unique resource to the nation.
Related News
Learn more about recent work that relied on APL’s design and fabrication expertise.