The US military has always been at the forefront of 3D printing innovation, often choosing additive manufacturing technology to produce related equipment including bridges, weapons and drones. The US military is a strong supporter of 3D printing in various industries. In April 2022, according to Mohou.com, a project related to additive manufacturing was promoted by the Army Tank Automobile and Weaponry Command (TACOM) and received support from SAE Government Technology and the DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) of the American army. , particularly the US military’s use of 3D printing technology to manufacture military ground vehicles.
Three U.S. government departments will host a ribbon-cutting reception for the Advanced Manufacturing Industrialization Center (AMCC) on April 6. The center contains a tool capable of manufacturing seamless hulls (Jointless Hull subsection tool), which is a hybrid metal additive manufacturing machine, used in engineering research and production to support jointless hull machines. large scale, can manufacture large metal components for Humvees, tanks and other ground vehicles. The opening of the new center is a testament to the initial success of Project Seamless Hull, an initiative within the U.S. Army that aims to use its additive manufacturing technology to create hull-scale tools for combat vehicles.
“Building a future military capable of continuing to respond to 21st century threats requires the development and deployment of next-generation technologies that give military formations a clear advantage over similar competitors,” said Brandon Pender, deputy director of GVSC Materials , which GVSC represents. the Army’s commitment to advanced manufacturing. . progress.”
US military 3D prints vehicle parts
△Hybrid metal additive manufacturing machine in Rock Island, Illinois (left)
With 3D printing, parts measuring up to 3 cubic feet can be produced on demand, significantly reducing construction time and costs. In the past, the military had to order parts from manufacturers and wait for them to be delivered. This process can take weeks or even months, which is not optimistic for urgent military operations. Since many military vehicles are old and no longer in production, it is difficult to obtain replacement parts. 3D printing allows the military to make the parts they need without relying on a manufacturer, and these in-house manufactured parts reduce wait times from months to days.
“We plan to use the center’s technology to more efficiently manufacture parts, reduce weight, lower costs and improve long-term sustainment, all to increase the Army’s readiness,” explained Brandon Pender , deputy director of the materials division of GVSC.
Considering the above advantages, additive manufacturing is widely used in the military field. Not only the US Army, but also the Royal Netherlands Army uses 3D printing to produce spare parts for its military vehicles. By manufacturing parts in-house rather than outsourcing them to traditional manufacturers, the Dutch Army no longer depends on outside manufacturers and increases its independent manufacturing capabilities while saving time and money. Although 3D printing in the military field is still in its infancy, its application prospects are exciting and it has completely changed the way spare parts are produced and supplied.
Source: Antarctic Bear
Daguang focuses on providing solutions such as precision CNC machining services (3-axis, 4-axis, 5-axis machining), CNC milling, 3D printing and rapid prototyping services.
