The ability to quickly print metal spare parts to keep a tank rolling or a helicopter flying amid battle is what makes metal 3D printing so attractive to the military.
“One of the most significant issues the military faces today is the ability to resolve critical spare part requirements in the field, a challenge that worsens in the face of global supply chain issues,” says Byron Kennedy, CEO of Spee3D, which just launched its 3D-printer-in-a-box.
Better known as the new Xspee3D, the transportable, standard shipping container-size unit includes the metal 3D printer and all auxiliary equipment.
The idea is to enable forces and industry, such as marine and oil & gas, to make metal parts from anywhere, including in harsh, remote locations.
The deployable cold-spray metal 3D printer unit enables users to print metal parts from anywhere in just minutes, Spee3D says. The company has been field testing and collaborating with the US and Australian Army for years.
The printer — also available in camouflage and custom paint — requires only a connection to electrical power and can print metal parts from metal alloys, including copper, stainless steel, titanium, high-strength aluminum, and nickel-based carbides to withstand extreme heat and rough terrain in the field.
The UK’s Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), an independent research and technology firm that works with the military and civilian organizations, will be the first to put the Xspee3D printer to the test, says Spee3D.
“Our goal at the MTC is to bridge the gap between industry and academia to showcase the world’s foremost technologies to our wide-ranging clients, including those in defense
“We chose the XSPpee3D for its unique capability to be deployed in harsh environments, which makes it ideal for military use or for the creation of spare parts in remote locations,” says Dr. Ken Young, director of technology at the MTC. “This opens up a new area of application for additive manufacturing that until now has been unachievable.”
Spee3D is no stranger to partnering with the military. The company’s WarpSpee3D printer recently printed parts at sea from a naval ship as part of a military exercise.
Militaries around the world are key early adopters and supporters of metal 3D printing technologies. Armed forces have recognized additive manufacturing’s potential for decades and have already put 3D printers to use in the field. 3D printed parts are currently in critical aircraft engines, on tanks and submarines, and on the soldiers themselves.
The use of 3D printing in the US military is now so widespread, the Defense Department’s Joint Defense Manufacturing Council stepped to coordinate it all under a unified strategy to use additive manufacturing to promote military readiness, cut costs, shorten supply chains, and accelerate innovation. The Pentagon additive manufacturing strategy calls for 3D printing to be integrated into the defense industrial base and promoted for use within all the branches.
Lead image source: Spee3D
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